Wimbledon: Krejcikova ‘feeling more confident’ as she moves into fourth round with Bouzas Maneiro retirement

Former Roland-Garros champion Barbora Krejcikova advanced to the last 16 of Wimbledon when Spain’s Jessica Bouzas Maneiro retired due to lower back issues in London on Saturday.

Krejcikova, ranked No 32 and seeded No 31, led 6-0, 4-3 when the 83rd-ranked Bouzas Maneiro, who stunned defending champion Marketa Vondrousova in the first round, pulled out at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

The Czech, a former world No 3, will face the winner of the match between American Danielle Collins, the No 11 seed, and Brazilian Beatriz Haddad Maia, the No 20 seed, next.

“I had two very tough first two matches. Today I wouldn’t say it was easier, but the score was definitely easier than the matches before, especially in the first set,” Krejcikova told the media after her win. “I think I’m kind of like playing the same game. I’m fighting for every ball. I think, yes, I’m getting more confident with my game and with the rallies that I’m playing, and I’m happy with that.”

“I think it’s the match rhythm is the toughest” – Krejcikova

The Czech, who has had a difficult time with injuries and health issues over the past two seasons acknowledged that it has taken her long to get back to match-fitness.

“I think it’s the match rhythm is the toughest. I feel it takes me just longer or I feel like after the injuries that I had, it just took me more matches to get back and to get used to the match rhythm. I feel for me that’s the most difficult part.”

This is the second time in her career that the 28-year-old is through to the second week at Wimbledon in singles (the first coming in 2021) and the eighth time at a Grand Slam event.

In the previous rounds of the tournament, Krejcikova edged out Russian Veronika Kudermetova (7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 7-5) and defeated American qualifier Katie Volynets (7-6 (6), 7-6 (5)).

Bouzas Maneiro won against No 6 seed Marketa Vondrousova (6-4, 6-2) and Cristina Bucsa (7-6 (1), 6-3) earlier in the week.

Wimbledon (Grand Slam), other third-round matches (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, grass, GBP 50,000,000):

• Emma Raducanu (WC) beat Maria Sakkari (9): 6-2, 6-3
• Coco Gauff (2) beat Sonay Kartal (Q): 6-4, 6-0
• Donna Vekic beat Dayana Yastremska (28): 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 6-1
• Madison Keys (12) beat Marta Kostyuk (18): 6-4, 6-3
• Emma Navarro (19) beat Diana Shnaider: 2-6, 6-3, 6-4
• Paula Badosa beat Daria Kasatkina (14): 7-6 (6), 4-6, 6-4
• Jasmine Paolini (7) beat Bianca Andreescu: 7-6 (4), 6-1
• Lulu Sun (Q) beat Lin Zhu: 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6)
• Elena Rybakina vs. Caroline Wozniacki
• Ons Jabeur vs. Elina Svitolina
• Iga Swiatek vs. Yulia Putintseva
• Danielle Collins vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia
• Bernarda Pera vs. Jelena Ostapenko
• Harriet Dart vs. Xinyu Wang
• Anna Kalinskaya vs. Liudmila Samsonova

You might also like this

Wimbledon: Krejcikova edges Kudermetova in 3-hour, 14-minute marathon

tennis majors

Wimbledon: Vondrousova slayer Bouzas Maneiro continues fairy tale run into third round

tennis majors

“Shut up to them” – Bouzas Maneiro on her tattoo and her big win over Vondrousova

tennis majors

Wimbledon: Vondrousova becomes first women’s defending champion in 30 years to lose in first round

tennis majors