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 quarter-finals 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).

There was further disappointment for British fans in the following match at a packed Devonshire Park when Emma Raducanu was beaten 4-6 6-1 7-6(4) by 19-year-old Australian Maya Joint.

Second seed Krejcikova, who beat Italys Jasmine Paolini to win last years Wimbledon title, seemed in control when 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 though and broke Krejcikovas 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 its hard to play against them but happy Im through.

I was going through a difficult moment at the beginning of this