A year ago, Florida Gators women’s tennis player Lucie Pawlak could never have imagined she would be standing in Monastir, Tunisia, holding a professional doubles title alongside her teammate Nikola Daubnerova. Their journey from reluctant partners to back-to-back ITF W15 doubles champions showcases how a summer tournament 5,000 miles from Gainesville led to an unexpected and powerful bond. What began with hesitation and apprehension quickly transformed into a successful partnership, proving just how much trust and connection can impact performance.
From fear to finals
Pawlak admitted she once feared Daubnerova’s strength and intensity during their fall training. “She’s scary, right?” she said in April. But by summer, the dynamic between the two had changed dramatically. Monastir, a city known for its clay-court tournament—a rare event on the ITF summer calendar—became the unlikely stage where the two crossed paths. What started as an experiment soon became a winning strategy.
In their first competition together, Pawlak and Daubnerova won the Monastir tournament with a decisive 6-2, 6-2 victory over Natalia Sousa Salazar and Maria Andrienko. Just weeks later, they repeated the feat in the Monastir 25 final, defeating 24-year-old Matilde Mariani and 30-year-old Francesca Dell’Edera 6-1, 6-3. Pawlak pointed to their complementary styles on the court as a major factor in their success. “I play with my forehand, and she plays with her right hand,” she said, highlighting how their playing styles worked in harmony.
But their success wasn’t just about skill. It was also about trust. Daubnerova said the key to their chemistry was the fact that they were teammates first. “I’ve been the same, but I think it's genuinely because we got to know each other better,” she said. The fact that they were familiar with Florida’s coaching philosophy helped their communication on the court, too. “We’ve been around what the coaches teach us about doubles,” Daubnerova added. “I wouldn’t be saying some stuff I’ve said to Lu to a girl I've never played with.”
Team Florida, even on the road
Despite the distance from home, the Gators’ identity stayed strong. During the summer, Pawlak struggled to find motivation in professional tournaments, but the support of her Florida teammates and coaches helped. Where is Per?’” she said. “I can’t play without you.” Conversations with head coach Per Nilsson and associate head coach Axel Damiens reminded her that adjusting to the professional game takes time. That motivation led her to the final in singles play, where she secured her first professional singles title after Matilde Mariani retired at 1-0 in the second set after Pawlak took the first set 6-3.
Their shared Gators identity brought pride to the tournament as well. In the doubles final, Pawlak and Daubnerova wore their orange Gators uniforms, prompting fans to comment, “Oh, you're with the Gators.” Pawlak said the experience felt “super exciting” because they were with Daubnerova and another Florida teammate, Gabia Paskauskas. Even though the tournament was held far from home, the Gators’ presence was clear and celebrated.
Building for the future
With former doubles partners India Houghton and Xinyi Nong graduating in 2026, the Florida coaching staff is closely watching the results of summer tournaments to plan for the future. Head coach Per Nilsson said he and assistant coach Axel Damiens have been strategizing who to pair in doubles and see value in players testing out new partnerships. “It gives you options.”
Daubnerova said the successes with Pawlak in Monastir provide a strong foundation for potential partnerships in the coming season. Pawlak also hopes that the pair will have the chance to continue building their chemistry. “The coaches can see that we can be good together.”
Pawlak acknowledged that the experience in Tunisia has changed her perspective on Daubnerova. “After one year of being together, I’m getting there.”