Barbora Krejcikova Withdraws from Eastbourne Open
Barbora Krejcikova, the reigning champion at Wimbledon, has raised concerns about her readiness for the upcoming tournament after stepping back from competition at the Eastbourne Open. The Czech athlete announced her withdrawal on Thursday due to a troublesome injury affecting her right thigh, which has put her title defense in jeopardy.
Injury Concerns
During her journey at Devonshire Park, Krejcikova experienced discomfort during her second-round match against British player Jodie Burrage. Although she successfully progressed from that round, the pain intensified overnight, prompting her decision to withdraw and allow Varvara Gracheva from France to advance to the quarterfinals by walkover.
“I’m very sorry to have to withdraw from my quarterfinal today in Eastbourne due to soreness in my right thigh. Overnight it just didn’t get any better; it actually got worse. I think it’s better to rest it with Wimbledon in the next couple of days and to assess the situation properly,” Krejcikova expressed in a statement.
Challenges Leading Up to Withdrawal
The second-seeded player faced significant challenges leading up to her withdrawal, having battled through two demanding three-set matches against local wild cards, narrowly escaping elimination by saving multiple match points on several occasions. Last year, Krejcikova triumphed at Wimbledon, defeating Jasmine Paolini in the final, marking a significant achievement in her career.
Her first-round match at this year’s tournament is set for Tuesday, leaving her limited time to recover and evaluate her condition.
