Wimbledon: Defending champion, Krejcikova survives Eala scare

Defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova avoided a first-round upset with a hard-fought victory over promising youngster Alexandra Eala.
The Czech had been an injury doubt coming into the tournament but showed her experience in a 3-6 6-2 6-1 win on Centre Court.
Krejcikova beat Italian Jasmine Paolini in last year’s final to lift the trophy but has been hampered by injury problems this year.
She endured a lengthy lay-off with a back injury, then had to pull out of Eastbourne last week because of a thigh injury.
Many anticipated her lack of match fitness – she has only played six matches this year – had laid the foundations for an upset at the All England Club against up-and-coming 20-year-old Filipino Eala.
Seventeenth seed Krejcikova’s preparations for the tournament were not dissimilar last year, when she arrived at the All England Club having played just nine matches and struggling with injury.
Returning to the site of her emotional triumph by opening Tuesday’s play on Centre Court, Krejcikova looked somewhat out of sorts in the opening set against an in-form opponent.
Eala memorably stunned Iga Swiatek at the Miami Open in March, then made more history by becoming the first Filipina to reach the final of a WTA Tour event at Eastbourne last week, where she lost to Australian teenager Maya Joint.
That has catapulted her to 56th in the rankings, and all of that talent was on display on day two at the Championships.