Wimbledon 2025: Defending Champion Krejcikova Battles Past Dolehide To Reach Third Round

Last Updated:July 03, 2025, 22:46 IST

Barbora Krejcikova advanced to Wimbledon's third round with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 win over Caroline Dolehide, overcoming injuries and limited play to defend her title.

Barbora Krejcikova at Wimbledon (AFP)

Reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova continued her title defense with a gritty 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 victory over American Caroline Dolehide on Thursday, advancing to the third round of the prestigious tournament.

The 17th-seeded Czech needed one hour and 51 minutes to overcome the world No. 67 in a match that tested her resolve, marking another hard-fought win after her comeback against Alexandra Eala in the first round.

Krejcikova, a two-time Grand Slam winner, has faced a challenging season following her triumph at Wimbledon last year over Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in the final.

Injury Setbacks and Limited Match Play

The 29-year-old was sidelined with a back injury and only returned to action in May. Her return has been far from smooth — she suffered a second-round exit at the French Open and withdrew from the Eastbourne Open before her quarterfinal match due to a thigh issue. So far, she has played just eight matches in 2024.

Despite the setbacks, Krejcikova expressed her joy at returning to the All England Club, calling her entrance onto Centre Court earlier this week “a very beautiful and just very joyful experience."

In Thursday’s match, played on Court Two, Krejcikova was broken early in the first set, falling behind after the fourth game. But she bounced back with four straight games to turn the tide and close out the set.

Dolehide fought back in the second, breaking serve in the sixth game to force a deciding set. However, Krejcikova regained composure in the third, breaking her opponent at 3-2 and consolidating the advantage to seal the match.

With the victory, Krejcikova keeps her Wimbledon campaign alive as she seeks to rediscover the form that brought her Grand Slam glory.

(with AFP inputs)

Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...Read More

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His long-term...

Read More

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