Defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova kicked off her 2025 campaign with a hard-fought victory, overcoming a spirited challenge from young talent Alexandra Eala on Centre Court. The Czech star, who clinched the title last year, rallied after a shaky start to secure a 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 win in her opening match.
Krejcikova, who triumphed over Jasmine Paolini in the 2024 final, entered this year's tournament amid concerns over her fitness. The 17th seed had been sidelined earlier in the season due to a back injury and withdrew from the Eastbourne event last week with a thigh issue. Her limited match play—just six matches in 2025—had raised doubts about her ability to defend her title.
However, the experienced player demonstrated her resilience against Eala, a 20-year-old Filipino who has been making waves on the WTA Tour. Eala, currently ranked 56th, stunned world-class players earlier this year, including a memorable victory over Iga Swiatek in Miami. Her recent run to the Eastbourne final further highlighted her potential.
The match began with Eala taking control, capitalizing on Krejcikova’s uncharacteristic errors and five double faults in the first set. The young star held her nerve to clinch the set 6-3, leaving the defending champion visibly frustrated.
Krejcikova, however, regrouped in the second set, racing to a 5-0 lead before Eala mounted a brief comeback. Despite the resistance, the Czech player leveled the match, setting the stage for a decisive third set. There, Krejcikova found her rhythm, cutting down on errors and sealing the win with a double break, much to the delight of the Centre Court crowd.
"It’s always special to play here, especially as the defending champion," Krejcikova said after the match. "Alexandra is a great player, and I knew I had to dig deep today. I’m just happy to get through and continue my journey at Wimbledon."
With this victory, Krejcikova advances to the second round, where she will look to build momentum in her quest for back-to-back Wimbledon titles. Meanwhile, Eala’s performance reinforced her status as one of the most promising young players in the sport.
Wimbledon 2025 continues with more thrilling matches as the world’s top tennis stars compete for glory at the All England Club.
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