Krejcikova saves match points again to survive in Eastbourne

EASTBOURNE, England — Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova saved match points for the second successive day against a British opponent to reach the quarterfinals of the Eastbourne WTA 250 event on Wednesday.

The 29-year-old Czech was troubled by a thigh strain and looked on the verge of being knocked out by Jodie Burrage when she served at 5-6 in the deciding set and fell 0-40 behind but she somehow turned it around to win 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3).

Second seed Krejcikova, who beat Italy’s Jasmine Paolini to win last year’s Wimbledon title, was leading by a set and a break of serve but needed treatment on her leg.

Burrage, ranked 164th in the world, played impressively to hit back and broke Krejcikova’s serve to level the match — one point being awarded to her after a forehand from her opponent found its way through a hole in the net.

The 26-year-old British player kept just ahead in the decider but she could not take any of the three match points that came her way and then a costly double-fault in the tiebreak offered up match points to Krejcikova, who made no mistake.

Krejcikova, who also saved match points on Tuesday against home player Harriet Dart, has won two singles matches in a row for the first time in an injury-hit 2025.

“Another tough match,” Krejcikova, who also has a French Open singles crown to her name, said on court.

“Brits know how to play on grass and it’s hard to play against them but happy I’m through.

“I was going through a difficult moment at the beginning of this year but I’m happy I’m here and can keep finding the level that I know I can reach.”

On the men’s side, Britain’s Dan Evans produced his second impressive win of the grass season as the 35-year-old knocked out American world No. 13 Tommy Paul, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.

“I know I have done the work. Once I got confidence, the work was in the bank,” Evans, now ranked 170th, said. “If you’re ready and the door opens, you will walk through it.”

At Queen’s Club this month he beat world No. 12 Francis Tiafoe.

There were also wins Wednesday for Czech third seed Jakub Mensik, French fourth seed Ugo Humbert, British lucky loser Billy Harris and American Jenson Brooksby.