2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova defeated reigning Roland Garros champion Mirra Andreeva. Krejcikova defeated Andreeva in a three-set thriller, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 in 2 hours and 46 minutes.
It’s such a special feeling to be walking on Centre Court at Wimbledon,” Krejcikova said to the press. “Every time I was able to get this opportunity, I feel very excited and just very pleased. It’s a bit of an unreal moment that it’s really happening, because to get so far from a little kid, the chances that a little kid gets here are very, very little.”
Krejcikova started with a break and two holds, a favour that was returned by Andreeva, levelling the match at three games each in the first set. The second set initially favoured Barbora, until Andreeva struck with a break back at 5-4.
During the third set, the youngster’s frustration was evident. A mishit caused her to throw her racquet to the ground lightly.
Down to three match points — she saved all six. After seven deuces and nineteen points, Andreeva had the match back on serve.
“I felt as soon as I won that game I felt like I had a lot of great chances to make the score even with my serve,” Andreeva said to the press. “I didn’t serve very well, didn’t win a lot of free points with my serve as I usually do. I felt like yes, it could have been a turning point. As you can see, it didn’t work and it wasn’t the turning point in the end.”
After that, Krejcikova, with the help of a net cord to throw off Andreeva on the seventh match point, won the match, and Andreeva’s frustration could be seen as she threw her racquet towards her chair.
“Even though I was up 5-2, then 5-3, I was 40-Love, I knew that she’s going to be putting the balls back in, and she’s gonna let me work for it,” Krejcikova said to the press. “I knew that I had to win and make, you know, the very last point. We get to the 5-4, I was still believing that I can put some pressure on her serve and that I can return quite well and get the match there.”
Krejcikova will next face fellow compatriot Nikola Bartunkova in the third round.
