Camille Naredo

Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova serves against Britain's Harriet Dart during their women's singles tennis match on day two at the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 24, 2025.  Adrian Dennis, AFP


Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova serves against Britain's Harriet Dart during their women's singles tennis match on day two at the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 24, 2025. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)

Article (news)

TENNIS

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1751276567946AFP__20250624__63LD3CP__v2__MidRes__TennisGbrWtaEastbourne.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Czech Republic&#x27;s Barbora Krejcikova serves against Britain&#x27;s Harriet Dart during their women&#x27;s singles tennis match on day two at the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 24, 2025.  Adrian Dennis, AFP"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Czech Republic&#x27;s Barbora Krejcikova serves against Britain&#x27;s Harriet Dart during their women&#x27;s singles tennis match on day two at the Lexus Eastbourne International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, southern England, on June 24, 2025.  <em>Adrian Dennis, AFP</em></span></span></span></div><p>LONDON -- Defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčíková admits that she does not know much about Filipina tennis star Alex Eala, but the Czech player is nonetheless anticipating a strong performance from the younger player.</p><p>Krejčíková, 29, will open her title defense at Centre Court against Eala on Tuesday.</p><p>The former world No. 2 will come into the tournament having just recovered from a thigh injury that forced her to withdraw from the Eastbourne Open at the quarterfinals stage.</p><p>&quot;I had to have a couple of days off where I didn&#x27;t really play any tennis, but I did some off-court stuff. I&#x27;ve been feeling every day a little bit better,&quot; she said. </p><p>&quot;I hope I&#x27;m going to have a nice match and a great tournament.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/6/30/tennis-alex-eala-thanks-filipinos-hopes-to-score-upset-at-wimbledon-0901">READ: Alex Eala thanks Filipinos, hopes to score upset at Wimbledon</a></div><p>Krejčíková, also the 2021 French Open champion, is now ranked 17th by the WTA and is aiming to rediscover her form. Her 2024 Wimbledon victory marked her first singles title on grass, a breakthrough moment that solidified her as a multidimensional threat on the tour.</p><p>Standing in her way is the 20-year-old Eala, who has been on an upward trajectory in the WTA Tour after making a shock run to the semifinals of the Miami Open earlier this year.</p><p>The Filipina also made it all the way to the finals of the Eastbourne Open, only losing in a heartbreaking final to Australia&#x27;s Maya Joint after squandering four match points.</p><p>&quot;Well, to be honest, I don&#x27;t really know that much about her yet. She&#x27;s obviously a young player,&quot; Krejčíková said of Eala.</p><p>&quot;But I saw some matches and I know she was doing quite well in the first half of the year. I think it&#x27;s going to be a great matchup and I&#x27;m looking forward to playing against her and to see where the young generation is,&quot; she added.</p><p>Even though she has just recovered from an injury, Krejčíková remains favored over world no. 56 Eala. The Czech star is embracing her role as the defending champion with a sense of gratitude rather than pressure.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/6/29/after-run-to-eastbourne-finals-alex-eala-now-ranked-56th-by-wta-1709">READ: After run to Eastbourne finals, Alex Eala now ranked 56th by WTA</a></div><p>&quot;It&#x27;s definitely not difficult. It&#x27;s actually very, very nice to be here and very nice to play even after all the time I was out,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;I find it tough, but I don&#x27;t find it difficult. I&#x27;m looking forward very much to playing Tuesday.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a5euXXnSYiU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BE6XZALgSCE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčíková admits that she does not know much about Filipina tennis star Alex Eala, but the Czech player is nonetheless anticipating a strong performance from the younger player.</p>

Defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejčíková admits that she does not know much about Filipina tennis star Alex Eala, but the Czech player is nonetheless anticipating a strong performance from the younger player.

Defending Wimbledon champ Krejčíková anticipates 'great match-up' vs. Alex Eala

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Defending Wimbledon champ Krejčíková anticipates 'great match-up' vs. Alex Eala

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 30, 2025 05:45 PM PHT

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