Wimbledon: Krejcikova defeats Andreeva in three sets, Osaka’s outfit draws attention

By Rohan Gupta — 1 July 2026 — 3 min read

Krejcikova’s Triumph on Centre Court

Barbora Krejcikova, a former Wimbledon champion, secured a notable victory against French Open champion Mirra Andreeva in a three-set match. The Czech player dedicated her win to her niece, who was at home with chickenpox. Krejcikova overcame Andreeva with a score of 4-6, 7-5, 6-4 after nearly three hours of play on Centre Court.

Krejcikova, who claimed the women’s singles title at Wimbledon in 2024, faced a challenging encounter. She nearly let the match slip away, missing six match points while leading 5-3 in the deciding set. However, she regained her composure to close out the victory in the subsequent game.

Following the match, Krejcikova expressed her hope that her performance on what she called “the best court in the world” would make her young niece proud. She mentioned that her niece, who plays tennis, was likely watching despite being ill with chickenpox, which her nephew had brought home from kindergarten. Krejcikova hoped her win would offer motivation for both tennis and life.

The match saw a moment of confusion for both players when loud cheers erupted around Centre Court. This was due to England defeating DR Congo to advance to the World Cup last 16. Krejcikova has faced various challenges, including injuries and personal issues, since her All England Club triumph two years prior, and experienced first-round exits at the Australian Open and Roland Garros earlier in the season.

While Krejcikova celebrated with a smile, the 19-year-old Andreeva showed her frustration by throwing her racquet and exclaiming “I quit” to her team before quickly leaving the court. The Russian teenager, who had threatened to throw her racquet throughout the match, became emotional during a news conference held shortly after her defeat. When asked about her recovery time, Andreeva stated she would “need a couple days” before taking a moment and adding that it would take some time, perhaps a few days, before she would return to practice for hard courts.

Osaka’s Fashion Statement and On-Court Success

Naomi Osaka once again captured attention at Wimbledon with her distinctive outfit choices. After arriving for her initial match in a full-length, all-white kimono, adhering to the tournament’s strict dress code, Osaka decided to “mix it up a little bit” for her return to action on Wednesday.

The 28-year-old combined a white jacket featuring a floral pattern with a long train, attached to her waist by an obi, a traditional decorative belt worn with a kimono. This ensemble reportedly stopped spectators and photographers as she made her way from the locker room to number two court.

Shortly after, Osaka equaled her best Wimbledon performance by defeating Anastasia Gasanova 6-3, 6-2, advancing to the third round. The former world number one, who was born in Japan to a Haitian father and Japanese mother and largely grew up in Florida, explained that her inspiration can come from anywhere.

She cited a trip to Japan, specifically the Harajuku district known for its fashion culture, where she observed people expressing themselves through clothing. Osaka described it as “so cool and colourful” and stated that it significantly influenced her fashion experimentation. She noted that she doesn’t typically have a fixed plan for clothes and believes it’s acceptable to try new things, even if they don’t always succeed.

Osaka is scheduled to compete against Russian-born Australian Daria Kasatkina in the third round. A potential fourth-round opponent could be world number one Aryna Sabalenka. Sabalenka herself advanced to the third round after a 6-1, 7-6 (11-9) victory over McCartney Kessler, and later took a photo with a young fan on Court One who had a replica of Sabalenka’s tiger tattoo.

Sabalenka has previously stated that her tattoo represents her aggressive approach to tennis. She described the fan encounter as “so adorable” and found it inspiring to see children emulating and supporting her. Sabalenka’s next match will be an anticipated third-round contest against former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who defeated Antonia Ruzic 6-2, 6-0.

Source: bbc.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter