Saturday, July 5, 2025

Wimbledon will get a new champion in 2025

< p>Today, an obviously ill, running-on-fumes, Barbora Krejickova was unable to take the next step in defending her 2024 Wimbledon title. There were, in fact, moments in the third set of her third round match against 10th seed Emma Navarro that she was unable to take the next step--period. Krejcikova took a medical time-out, but that didn't help. Known for her calm demeanor on court, the defending champion stood and wept at one point near the end of the match. She then skillfully served and won the ninth game of the set. But that miracle surge was short-lived--Navarro defeated her 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.

This victory makes Navarro the official Czceh champion-killer of 2025 Wimbledon. Earlier, she defeated two-time champion Petra Kvitova.

Yesterday, Emma Raducanu gave top seed Aryna Sabalenka everything she could handle. Sabalenka won, 7-6(6), 6-4, in a match that was very exciting to watch. 

6th seed and Australian Open champion Madison Keys didn't fare as well; she was beaten in straight sets by one of the tour's veteran tricksters, Laura Siegemund. The German player sliced and lobbed Keys repeatedly, not allowing her to develop any kind of rhythem. Siegemund's 6-3, 6-3 victory puts her into the Wimbledon round of 16 for the first time in her career.

Also gone is 11th seed and 2022 champion Elena Rybakina, defeated 7-6(6), 6-3 by Clara Tauson.  

Dayana Yastremska has looked very good at this year's tournament; she knocked out 2nd seed Coco Gauff in the first round. But today, Yastremska was defeated 6-1, 2-6, 6-3 by an under-the-radar Jessica Bouzas Maneiro. And 16th seed Elena Svitolina, who has historically done quite well in London, was upset today by the always dangerous 24th seed, Elise Mertens. 

With Petra Kvitova, Marketa Vondrousova and Barbora Krejcikova out, all of the former champions (all Czechs) have been eliminated from play. Thee will be a first-time champion, and--of course--all eyes are on world number 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka lost the Australian Open final to Madison Keys, then she lost the French Open final to Coco Gauff. So far, at Wimbledon, she has defeated notable qualifier Carson Branstine, a very in-form Marie Bouzkova and Raducanu.

Here is the round of 16 draw:

Aryna Sabalenka (1) v. Elise Mertens (24)
Solana Sierra (LL) v. Laura Siegemund
Linda Noskova (30) v. Amanda Anisimova (13)
Sonay Kartal vs. Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova
Mirra Andreeva (7) v. Emma Navarro (10)
Ekaterina Alexandrova (18) v. Belinda Bencic
Iga Swiatek (8) v. Clara Tauson (23)
Liudmila Samsonova (19) v. Jessica Bouzas Maneiro 

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