Defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova’s tournament run ended emotionally on Saturday, as the Czech 17th seed was defeated 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 by American 10th seed Emma Navarro.
Krejcikova appeared to be struggling with an injury during the match and was seen weeping on Court One, becoming the latest high-profile exit in the women’s draw following five of the top six seeds.
Krejcikova, 29, had already navigated two tough three-set matches to reach the third round, but her fitness issues ultimately caught up to her.
Navarro acknowledged her opponent’s struggles, stating, “It was tough out here today… I know she was dealing with some injuries.”
Injury Woes Plague Krejcikova’s 2025 Season
Credit: France 24
The two-time Grand Slam champion arrived at Wimbledon with only six matches played in an injury-plagued 2025 season.
Since winning last year’s Wimbledon final against Jasmine Paolini, Krejcikova has faced a difficult period, including a back injury that sidelined her until May and a thigh problem that forced her withdrawal from the recent Eastbourne Open.
Despite her initial enthusiasm for playing on the All England Club’s “temple of tennis,” Krejcikova’s strong start in the first set faded.
She lost rhythm in the second, allowing Navarro to level the match.
Before the deciding set, Krejcikova took a lengthy break but quickly lost her serve.
Visibly uncomfortable, she called for a medical time-out during the final set, struggling with obvious pain.
Despite breaking back, it wasn’t enough, and Navarro closed out the match, leaving a tearful Krejcikova to exit the court.
