Defending Wimbledon women’s singles champion Barbora Krejcikova proved her class on Tuesday night at Centre Court, overcoming a spirited challenge from Filipina tennis star Alex Eala in three sets, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.
Eala, making her Wimbledon main draw debut, impressed early by taking the first set against the Czechoslovakian champion. After pulling ahead 3-2, the 20-year-old Filipino held her nerve and closed out the opener, 6-3.
But Krejcikova, an eight-time WTA singles titlist and former French Open champion, responded with a dominant second set, racing to a 4-0 lead. Eala tried to claw her way back, but the Czech held firm to take the set, 6-2.
The third and deciding set saw Krejcikova in full control. Despite Eala’s efforts to stage a comeback, the defending champion closed it out convincingly, 6-1, to advance to the next round.
Despite the loss, Eala made a strong impression in her first Wimbledon appearance by winning a set and showing flashes of brilliance against one of the world’s top players.
Ranked No. 56 in the world, Eala came into Wimbledon with momentum after a breakthrough performance at the Lexus Eastbourne Open, where she reached the final before narrowly falling to Australia’s Maya Joint, 4-6, 6-1, 6(10)-7.
Her competitive showing at Wimbledon only added to the growing respect she’s earned on the WTA Tour.
The post Barbora Krejcikova outlasts Alex Eala in Wimbledon debut match first appeared on Fastbreak.
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