Wimbledon set for another new women's winner after Barbora Krejcikova exit

Irish Examiner

9 hours ago

A new name will be on the Wimbledon women's title for the eighth successive tournament after defending champion Barbora Krejcikova and 2022 winner Elena Rybakina were knocked out in the third round.
Krejcikova had her blood pressure taken on court during a medical timeout in the deciding set of her 2-6 6-3 6-4 loss to 10th seed Emma Navarro.
The 29-year-old Czech player appeared visibly distressed for the remainder of the match.
No.1 Court rises for our 2024 Ladies' Singles Champion
We look forward to seeing you next year, Barbora 💚#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/StLUVMq1Lw — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2025
She was frequently bent over with her hands on her knees before being in tears at the back of the court ahead of the final two games.
Not since Serena Williams lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish for the seventh and final time in 2016 has a female former champion triumphed in SW19.
In contrast, there have only been five different winners of the men's competition – Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Carlos Alcaraz – during the past 22 years.
Rybakina earlier suffered a rain-delayed 7-6 (6) 6-3 upset against 22-year-old Dane Clara Tauson.
Elena Rybakina was beaten by Clara Tauson (Ben Whitley/PA)
The 11th seed made 31 unenforced errors across the contest, including sending a straightforward forehand long on match point.
Tauson's reward for one of the biggest wins of her career is a last-16 meeting with five-time grand slam champion Iga Swiatek, who beat Danielle Collins in straight sets.
Teenage seventh seed Mirra Andreeva awaits Navarro after she rushed into round four with a straight-sets win over American world number 55 Hailey Baptiste.
With inclement conditions temporarily halting play on the outer courts, the 18-year-old Russian cruised to a 6-1 6-3 victory under the Court One roof.
Classy. Composed. Clara. 🤩
Clara Tauson defeats 2022 Ladies' Singles Champion Elena Rybakina 7-6(6), 6-3 to move into the fourth round ⚡️#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/lT5Fbm54I2 — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2025
Aside from world number one Aryna Sabalenka, who overcame Britain's Emma Raducanu on Friday evening, Andreeva is the highest seeded player remaining in the women's draw following a series of upsets across week one.
Liudmila Samsonova joins compatriot Andreeva in the second week after hitting a monster serve of 128 miles per hour in her 6-2 6-3 victory over Daria Kasatkina.
Samsonova's effort was just short of the Wimbledon women's record of 129mph – set by Venus Williams in 2008.
Kasatkina, who switched allegiance from Russia to Australia earlier this year after publicly criticising her country's LGBTQ+ laws and the war in Ukraine, trailed 6-2 2-0 when play was temporarily halted by rain and could not mount a comeback.