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Reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova rallied from a set down to defeat Philippines tennis star Alexandra Eala in the first round on Tuesday.
The Czech player struggled in the first set, but dropped only three more games to secure a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 victory on the sweltering Centre Court.
Since defeating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in last year’s final, the two-time Grand Slam champion Krejcikova has faced numerous challenges. The 29-year-old was sidelined until May due to a back injury and was eliminated in the second round at the recent French Open.
Krejcikova withdrew from the Eastbourne Open last week before the quarter-finals due to a thigh issue and had only competed in six matches this year before facing Eala on Tuesday.
“I was in a lot of pain in my back and I didn’t really know how my career was going to go,” she said. “I’m super happy and super excited that I can be here and that I can play on such a great court.”
Eala, a finalist at Eastbourne last week, broke Krejcikova’s serve twice in the first set to establish an early lead, showcasing a series of powerful deep groundstrokes.
The out-of-sorts Krejcikova committed 19 unforced errors during a disorganised performance, struggling to maintain a consistent ball toss.
However, the 2024 champion swiftly found her rhythm in the second set, jumping to a 5-0 advantage and levelling the match while significantly reducing her error count. The world number 16 continued to excel in the final set, clinching the match with a decisive backhand down the line.
Eala, ranked 56th, made history in Eastbourne as the first Filipina to reach a WTA final, and Krejcikova commended her impressive performance in the opening set.
