Eastbourne Open Highlights
EASTBOURNE, England (AP) — In a gripping first-round match at the Eastbourne Open, Wimbledon titleholder Barbora Krejcikova faced a tough battle against British player Harriet Dart. Krejcikova, who had a rocky start to her season due to a back injury, managed to save two match points on Dart’s serve while trailing 5-4 in the thrilling final set. Ultimately, she triumphed with a final score of 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-5, marking only her second victory of the year as she prepares to defend her title at Wimbledon next week.
Player Performances
At 29, the Czech athlete, currently ranked 17th, arrived at Eastbourne for this critical warm-up event following a disappointing early exit at the Queen’s Club. Meanwhile, in another first-round encounter, Emma Raducanu, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, had a shaky start after dropping the first set but came back strong to defeat American Ann Li with a score of 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1. Raducanu, seeded seventh in the tournament, will next compete against the young Australian talent Maya Joint, who recently stunned two-time Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur.
“These matches at Eastbourne serve as crucial preparation for the athletes as they gear up for one of the most prestigious tournaments in tennis.”
American Sofia Kenin, seeded fourth, faced an early setback as she fell 6-4, 6-4 to Australia’s Kimberly Birrell, ranked 77th. As the Wimbledon Championships approach, performances in these matches are pivotal for the players.
