Krejcikova sends off Collins, reaches her first Wimbledon quarter-final

Barbora Krejcikova has slipped under the radar for the last few seasons, the Czech not exactly on the hot list of favourites to win major titles as her form has slipped since she won her maiden major at Roland-Garros in 2021. 

Newsflash: the former world No 2 still has game. 

Now, the No 31 seed is into the Wimbledon quarter-final for the first time, and she has completed the career set of Grand Slam quarter-finals as well. 

Krejcikova defeated 11th-seeded American Danielle Collins, 7-5, 6-3 to book a last eight clash with Jelena Ostapenko on No.1 Court on Monday, the American bidding farewell to Wimbledon as she plays her last season on tour. 

“It’s a great feeling,” Krejcikova said after the one hour and 42-minute clash. “It’s a huge honour to be here, to play on Court 1 at Wimbledon – it’s a gift.” 

For Krejcikova, who improves to 2-0 lifetime against Collins and 10-3 lifetime at Wimbledon, the victory could represent a new beginning. The 28-year-old is proving she’s still a relevant talent at the majors, and she’s now reached two major quarter-finals in the same season for the first time since 2021. 

Collins Struggled with Injury 

In the second set, as Collins’ struggles mounted, she needed to see the trainer and went off court for a medical timeout. The 30-year-old came back from the trainer’s room with her left thigh strapped, but couldn’t change Krejcikova’s momentum down the stretch. 

It’s a bitter ending for Collins, who was hoping to play a singles match on Wimbledon’s Centre Court for the first time this week.

There were just too many unforced errors flying off of Collins racquet on Monday. She finished the contest with 35, against just 16 winners. 

Krejcikova hit 19 winners, 19 unforced errors and earned 14 break points as she constantly pressured Collins’ serve, and eventually converted three breaks.

Neverthless, Collins can take solace in the fact that she reached the second week at Wimbledon for the first time in her career, on her sixth career appearance. 

The former world No 7 will next head to the Olympic Games in Paris, and likely finish her career at the US Open (though this is yet to be determined).

Krejcikova, meanwhile, can look ahead to facing Ostapenko in a battle of former Roland-Garros champions in the next round. The Latvian holds a 5-2 career edge over Ostapenko, including a win in their last meeting, in the Birmingham final in 2023, on grass. 

Krejcikova took the pair’s lone Grand Slam meeting, at the 2022 Australian Open, in the third round. 

“I’m definitely looking forward to that match,” a contented Krejcikova said, “but now I’m just to enjoy the victory I have today. I’m for the first time in the quarter-finals and we’re gonna celebrate tonight.”

London (Grand Slam), other last 16 results (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, grass, GBP 50.000.000, most recent results first):

• Jelena Ostapenko beat Yulia Putintseva: 6-2, 6-3
• Elina Svitolina (21) beat Xinyu Wang: 6-2, 6-1
• Elena Rybakina (4) beat Anna Kalinskaya (17): 6-3, 3-0 ret.
• Emma Navarro (19) beat Coco Gauff (2): 6-4, 6-3
• Lulu Sun (Q) beat Emma Raducanu (WC): 6-2, 5-7, 6-2
• Jasmine Paolini (7) beat Madison Keys (12): 6-3, 6-7 (6), 5-5 ret.
• Donna Vekic beat Paula Badosa: 6-2, 1-6, 6-4

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