EASTBOURNE, England — Barbora Krejcikova’s participation in her Wimbledon title defense is in jeopardy as she pulled out of the Eastbourne Open on Thursday due to a troubling right thigh injury.
As a result, Varvara Gracheva from France advanced to the quarterfinals without contest at Devonshire Park.
The Czech star initially experienced discomfort on Wednesday during her hard-fought second-round match against British player Jodie Burrage. Unfortunately, the situation escalated overnight, prompting her to seek medical advice, particularly with her opening match at Wimbledon set for Tuesday.
“I’m truly disappointed to withdraw from today’s quarterfinal in Eastbourne due to soreness in my right thigh,” Krejcikova expressed in an official statement. “The pain persisted through the night and in fact, intensified. With Wimbledon just around the corner, I believe it’s wise to take some time to rest and address the issue.”
Krejcikova has faced fierce competition, battling through two grueling three-set matches against British wild cards along the southern coast. She managed to fend off two match points against Harriet Dart and thwarted three more against Burrage.
Last year, Krejcikova triumphed over Jasmine Paolini to claim the Wimbledon title.
