Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova reached the Lexus Eastbourne Open quarter-finals after an incredible act of sportsmanship against Jodie Burrage.
The Czech star saved three match points against the British No.7 to win 6-4 4-6 7-6 to win back-to-back matches for time this year.
But serving at 4-5 the second set, the world No.17 over-ruled the umpire when she gave a point to Burrage after Krejcikova’s forehand went through the net at Devonshire Park.
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Croatian umpire Marija Cicak gave the point to Krejcikova before Burrage protested and found a hole in the net. Seeing the hole, the Wimbledon winner gave the point to Burrage and then lost the next two points to lose the set.
“I saw something going through, but I didn’t know if there was a hole or not,” said Krejcikova. And then when she found the hole, I said “I felt it had also gone through, so it’s your point.”
Burrage said: “At 5-4, it was 15-15 and a pretty important point. Her ball went through the net and the umpire didn’t see it and thought it had hit the net and went over. I went over and looked because I was 100% sure that it went through the net and there was a hole.
“And when Barbora saw that, she obviously gave me the point which I am not sure I would do the same thing in that scenario because at the end of the day, I won the next two points and the second set. So full credit to her. I don’t think many people are giving me that.
“It shows what kind of person she is and very lucky to have that point and set. But tough match and result overall.”
Krejcikova, who missed the first five months of the season with a back injury, saved two match points in the opening round against Harriet Dart. She saved three more against Burrage at 5-6 0-40 in the third set as she raised her game to win seven consecutive points.
After only her sixth match of the season, she said: “I am very happy with the win today. Another tough match. The Brits know how to play on grass. It is so difficult to play against them with the crowd. I am happy to be through and hopefully I am not playing a Brit in the next round.”
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Content Source: www.express.co.uk