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Barbora Krejcikova‘s bid to retain her Wimbledon crown ended in heartbreak as she was visibly hampered by physical issues during a grueling three-set loss to 10th-seeded American Emma Navarro in the third round, 2-6 6-3 6-4.
The Czech player had entered the tournament with lingering injury concerns and was already short on match practice, having played only six matches all season. Despite these setbacks, she looked sharp early on, showcasing her signature variety and finesse to claim the opening set 6-2 and put pressure on the 24-year-old Navarro.
Krejcikova even went up a break in the second set, but her level dropped during a shaky service game that featured two double faults and a wild forehand error. Navarro capitalized on the momentum shift and took the second set 6-3. As the American stayed energized between sets, Krejcikova disappeared under a towel, visibly fatigued.
The deciding set became increasingly painful to watch. Krejcikova missed multiple break point opportunities and was broken in the third game. Her physical struggles became apparent, as she frequently bent over at the baseline between points, and the trainer was called to check her blood pressure midway through the set.
As defeat loomed, the 29-year-old Czech leaned against the screen at the back of the court, wiping away tears. She managed to hold serve one final time, staving off the loss for a moment, but the match ended when she netted a shot in the next game. Navarro advanced to the fourth round, where she will face 18-year-old Russian Mirra Andreeva, the tournament’s seventh seed.
Krejcikova had already endured two three-set battles earlier in the tournament and had spent nearly twice as much time on court as Navarro. Coming off a thigh injury that forced her out of Eastbourne just weeks prior, she ultimately couldn’t overcome the physical and emotional toll. Her Wimbledon defense ended not with a bang, but with tears—her title slipping through her fingers in an emotional final act.
