Eastbourne, England – Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova saved two match points in the serve of British rival Harriet Dart before winning her opening at the rally, winning the match at the Grass-Court Eastbourne Open on Tuesday.
In the 32 games leading 5-4 in the decisive third round, Dart led 5-4, with the second seed Krejcikova winning 6-3, 6-7 (4), 7-5.
This is just the second victory of this year’s No. 17 Krejcikova, who won’t start his season until May with a back injury.
The 29-year-old Czech player came to Eastbourne for a final warm-up before starting to defend her Wimbledon title next week. She lost in the first round of the pasture match at Queens London.
2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu lost his first set in a 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-1 win over U.S. Ann Li. The seventh seed British player next faces Australian teenager Maya, who eliminated two wins from Tunisia’s Wimbledon on Monday to beat finalist Ons Jabeur.
The fourth seed American Sofia Kenin defeated No. 77 Australian Kimberly Birrell 6-4, 6-4.
