Barbora Krejcikova’s participation in the upcoming Wimbledon tournament is now uncertain, following her withdrawal from the Eastbourne Open due to issues with her right thigh.
The defending Wimbledon champion had been scheduled to play against Varvara Gracheva from France in the quarterfinals at Devonshire Park. However, Krejcikova was unable to take the court, resulting in a walkover win for Gracheva. The discomfort began during her second-round win against Britain’s Jodie Burrage on Wednesday and worsened by Thursday morning, compelling her to pursue a medical scan. Her first match at Wimbledon is planned for Tuesday.
“I’m very sorry to have to withdraw from my quarterfinal today in Eastbourne as I’m having some soreness in my right thigh,” she expressed in a statement. “Overnight it just didn’t get any better; it actually got worse. I think it’s better with Wimbledon in the next couple of days just to rest it and to see what’s going on and to resolve that.” Krejcikova explained the necessity of her decision, prioritizing rest and recovery with Wimbledon approaching, aiming to address the issue thoroughly.
At Eastbourne, Krejcikova faced challenges, battling through tough three-set matches against British wild cards. In the second round, she narrowly defeated Harriet Dart after saving two match points, and similarly, she overcame Jodie Burrage, surviving three match points. Last year, Krejcikova claimed victory in the Wimbledon final against Jasmine Paolini, establishing her as a formidable competitor.