Wimbledon champion Krejcikova saves 2 match points in first-round win at Eastbourne
Barbora Krejcikova celebrates beating Harriet Dart during day two of the Eastbourne Open at Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, England, Tuesday June 24, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
EASTBOURNE, England (AP) — Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova saved two match points on British opponent Harriet Dart’s serve before rallying to win her opening match Tuesday at the grass-court Eastbourne Open.
Dart was 40-15 up on serve leading 5-4 in the decisive third set of a rain-affected round-of-32 match that second-seeded Krejcikova went on win 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-5.
Harriet Dart in action against Barbora Krejcikova during day two of the Eastbourne Open at Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, Eastbourne, England, Tuesday June 24, 2025. (Bradley Collyer/PA via AP)
It was just the second victory this year for the 17th-ranked Krejcikova, whose season didn't start until May because of a back injury.
The 29-year-old Czech player came to Eastbourne for her final warmup before beginning the defense of her Wimbledon title next week. She lost in the first round at her previous grass-court event at Queen’s Club in London.
Emma Raducanu, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, dropped the first set on her way to a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1 win over Ann Li of the United States. The seventh-seeded British player next faces Australian teenager Maya Joint, who on Monday eliminated Ons Jabeur, the two-time Wimbledon beaten finalist from Tunisia.
Britain Eastbourne Tennis
Sofia Kenin, the fourth-seeded American, lost her opening match 6-4, 6-4 against Kimberly Birrell, the 77th-ranked Australian.
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