Defending Champion Krejcikova Survives Eala Scare to Reach Wimbledon Second Round
Barbora Krejcikova battled through a shaky start and rising heat to overcome 20-year-old Filipino sensation Alexandra Eala, clinching a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory and advancing to the second round at Wimbledon.
Still recovering from a season marred by injuries, Krejcikova entered the tournament under the shadow of doubt—even from Wimbledon’s own predictive algorithms, which had tipped her for an early exit similar to that of fellow Czech Marketa Vondrousova, who famously bowed out in the first round last year after winning the title.
And in the early stages, those forecasts looked accurate. Eala, fresh off a tough final loss at Eastbourne, came out firing, outpacing and overpowering Krejcikova to take the first set 6-3. With Krejcikova struggling for mobility and rhythm following her recent thigh injury, Eala’s explosive groundstrokes had the Centre Court crowd buzzing.
But the reigning champion regrouped. A steady hold to start the second set gave her a foothold, and a fortunate forehand winner helped her break Eala early. From there, the match tilted dramatically. Krejcikova stormed to a 5-0 lead in the second set, rediscovering her range, movement, and power.
Momentum had clearly shifted. Eala, once sharp and aggressive, began to unravel under the pressure. Errors crept in, and by the third set, the Czech had taken full control—breaking Eala immediately and never looking back. At 5-1, Krejcikova let out a roar as she broke again, sealing the final set with authority.
Despite limited match play this year—just six matches prior to Wimbledon—Krejcikova’s performance proved that while her body may not yet be in peak shape, her mental toughness remains championship-grade.
