Barbora Krejcikova’s hopes of defending her Wimbledon title is in question after she withdrew from the Eastbourne Open on Thursday due to a right thigh injury.
The Czech star was scheduled to face France’s Varvara Gracheva in the quarterfinals at Devonshire Park, but pulled out just hours before the match. The injury first flared up during her grueling second-round win over Britain’s Jodie Burrage on Wednesday, and worsened overnight. With her first-round match at Wimbledon set for Tuesday, Krejcikova decided not to risk further damage.
“I’m very sorry to have to withdraw from my quarterfinal today in Eastbourne as I’m having some soreness in my right thigh,” Krejcikova said. “Overnight it just didn’t get any better; it actually got worse. I think it’s better, with Wimbledon in the next couple of days, just to rest it, see what’s going on, and try to resolve it.”
The 29-year-old is awaiting scan results that will determine whether she can compete at the All England Club, where she claimed her second Grand Slam singles title last year with a win over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini.
Krejcikova’s 2025 season has been anything but smooth. She missed the Australian Open in January due to a back injury that sidelined her until May, and suffered a second-round exit at the French Open. Her grass-court campaign has also been rocky — she suffered an early loss to Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova at Queen’s Club and was pushed to the limit in Eastbourne by two British wild cards.
The world No. 17 had to save two match points to edge out Harriet Dart in the opening round, then clawed back from the brink again by saving three match points against Burrage in the second. While those wins showed resilience, the physical toll appears to have caught up with her.
With just days to go before Wimbledon begins, Krejcikova’s status remains uncertain — and so does her quest for a successful title defense.