American tennis player Emma Navarro showed immense determination and fighting spirit as she defeated former Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova in the third round on Sunday. The 10th seed came from behind to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, sending an unwell Krejcikova packing and continuing the trend of early exits for former champions at the All England Club.

Navarro’s Stubborn Streak Pays Off

Navarro described herself as “stubborn” and her playing style as “scrappy” — qualities that served her well on Court No. 1. She took pride in never giving up, regardless of the situation. “Something I take a lot of pride in is being tough and fighting till the last point, no matter what the circumstances are. It’s something I always try to do,” she said.

She added, “I could never live with myself if I ever gave up. It’s just not in my nature. I don’t think it’s in any of my family members’ nature to ever give up on anything. I guess we're a stubborn bunch.”

Krejcikova Struggles Physically

Krejcikova started strong, taking the first set 6-2, but her performance dipped as the match went on. In the final set, she began feeling unwell. Navarro broke her serve to lead 3-2, after which Krejcikova took a medical timeout. She had her blood pressure checked and tried to recover by eating a banana and hydrating.

When the match resumed, it was clear Krejcikova was struggling. She frequently bent over between points, appearing fatigued. "I was actually feeling worse and worse," Krejcikova said after the match. “It's very sad for me and very unfortunate.” As a result of this loss, she will fall out of the WTA’s top 70.

A History of Upsets

Navarro is no stranger to major victories. She had previously defeated Coco Gauff at Wimbledon last year to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. She beat Gauff again at the US Open, eventually making it to the semifinals — her best Grand Slam performance yet.

Now, her win over Krejcikova ensures that Wimbledon will see yet another first-time women’s champion. The tournament has had a different winner each year since Serena Williams last defended her title in 2016.

Past champions like Garbiñe Muguruza (2017), Angelique Kerber (2018), Simona Halep (2019), Ash Barty (2021), Elena Rybakina (2022), and Marketa Vondrousova (2023) have either retired or exited early. Rybakina lost on Saturday, while Vondrousova exited in round two.

Few Top Seeds Remain

Navarro is now one of only four top-10 seeds still left in the women’s draw. The others are world number one Aryna Sabalenka, seventh seed Mirra Andreeva, and eighth seed Iga Swiatek, who defeated Danielle Collins 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday.

Confidence on Grass

Navarro also praised her own adaptability on grass, saying, “My slice is coming along pretty nicely. I’m able to use that to my advantage. Played scrappy at times. Played tough. Hit some good groundstrokes, as well. I feel pretty good about where I'm at.”

As the tournament heads into its final week, Navarro has emerged as a strong contender, using her grit and resilience to rise above the challenges.