Barbora Krejcikova’s Wimbledon title defence is under a cloud after the Czech champion withdrew from the Eastbourne Open, suffering from a thigh injury.
The world No.17, who defeated Jasmine Paolini in the women’s singles final at SW19 last year but has since been riddled with injury, had been due to face France’s Varvara Gracheva in the quarter-finals at Devonshire Park on Thursday.
The 29-year-old had felt the problem the day before during her second-round victory over Britain’s Jodie Burrage but admitted it had got worse overnight and, with her traditional opening match as Wimbledon champion scheduled for Centre Court on Tuesday, she’s decided to take no chances.
“I’m very sorry to have to withdraw from my quarter-final today in Eastbourne as I’m having some soreness in my right thigh,” she said in a statement.
“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 and to see what’s going on and to resolve that.”
Krejcikova had to battle through two draining three-set singles matches, saving match points in both, at the traditional Wimbledon curtain-raiser on England’s south coast.
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