Wimbledon 2025: Defending Champion Krejcikova to Face Alexandra Eala in Opening Round
Swiatek-Gauff quarterfinal clash on the cards as Wimbledon draw reveals high-stakes early encounters
London | June 27, 2025 — The draw for the 2025 Wimbledon Championships was unveiled on Friday, setting the stage for some blockbuster early and mid-tournament clashes in the women’s singles bracket. Defending champion Barbora Krejcikova begins her title defense on Centre Court against one of this season’s most exciting breakout stars — 20-year-old Alexandra Eala from the Philippines.
The main draw of the grass-court Grand Slam begins on June 30, and it already promises drama, history, and the rise of new stars.
Krejcikova’s Road Back from Injury Begins Against Eala
Barbora Krejcikova, who has struggled with fitness in 2025 after being sidelined for five months due to a back injury, enters Wimbledon with limited match practice. She was forced to pull out of the Eastbourne quarterfinals this week because of a thigh issue.
Standing in her path is Alexandra Eala, whose meteoric rise in 2025 includes a stunning run to the Miami Open semifinals, where she defeated three Grand Slam champions — Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and World No. 1 Iga Swiatek. Eala also made her first grass-court semifinal appearance this week in Eastbourne, establishing herself as a dark horse in this year’s draw.
Gauff and Swiatek Poised for Quarterfinal Showdown
A tantalizing quarterfinal clash could be in store between reigning French Open champion Coco Gauff and four-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, should both players advance through their respective sections.
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Gauff, seeded No. 2, opens against Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska. Her projected path includes:
- Sofia Kenin (Third Round)
- Swiatek, drawn in the same quarter, opens against Polina Kudermetova, aiming to go beyond the fourth round at Wimbledon for the first time in her career.
Sabalenka Faces Tough Early Path
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, still chasing her first Wimbledon final appearance, begins her campaign against Canadian qualifier Carson Branstine. However, her road is anything but easy:
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Potential 3rd round opponents include:
- Marketa Vondrousova (2023 Wimbledon champion)
- Emma Raducanu (2021 US Open champion)
- McCartney Kessler (Nottingham champion)
Kvitova Begins Final Wimbledon Against Navarro
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who recently announced that this will be her farewell Wimbledon appearance, will start against No. 10 seed Emma Navarro, who reached the quarterfinals in 2024. The match is expected to be emotionally charged, with Centre Court likely giving Kvitova a hero’s send-off.
More First-Round Highlights and Projections
- Jessica Pegula (No. 3 seed) begins against Elisabetta Cocciaretto. She could face Tatjana Maria, 2022 semifinalist and current Queen’s Club champion, in the second round.
- Jelena Ostapenko, former Roland Garros winner, meets Briton Sonay Kartal, with Ons Jabeur — a two-time Wimbledon runner-up — potentially awaiting in round two.
- Zheng Qinwen, Olympic gold medallist, will take on Katerina Siniakova in her opener. Should she win, she may face Naomi Osaka in round two — a must-watch match between two powerful baseliners.
Key Storylines to Watch
- Can Barbora Krejcikova successfully defend her title despite injury setbacks?
- Will Alexandra Eala’s breakout season continue on grass?
- Can Coco Gauff go all the way after her French Open triumph?
- Is this the year Iga Swiatek finally conquers Wimbledon’s grass courts?
- How will Petra Kvitova perform in her emotional Wimbledon farewell?
When Does Wimbledon 2025 Start?
The main draw begins on June 30, with Centre Court matches starting at 1:30 PM local time. The women’s final is scheduled for July 13.
Takeaways for Tennis Fans
- The Wimbledon 2025 women’s draw is stacked with talent, youth, and legends — promising thrilling matches from the opening rounds.
- High-seed matchups could come early, with past champions potentially facing each other by round two or three.
- This year’s tournament could be defining for several stars — from defending champions and Olympic medallists to the new generation rising fast.