Grand Slam champion unexpectedly enters the 'grass court tournament'

At a time when nearly all top 100 players have no remaining objectives and opt to rest, the Grand Slam grass court winner continues to compete in a minor tournament.

The 2025 season for Barbora Krejcikova is still ongoing. The 2024 Wimbledon champion surprisingly appears on the entry list for the WTA 125 event in Angers, France, scheduled from December 1 to December 7. This decision draws attention, as many believed she had ended her season following an injury in Asia over a month ago.

Previously, Krejcikova performed impressively in the latter half of the season, reaching the quarterfinals consecutively at the US Open and Seoul, along with a third-round appearance at the China Open. However, she was forced to retire mid-match against McCartney Kessler due to injury and subsequently withdrew from the remainder of the Asian tour.

"Moments like these have never been easy… I was really excited about the Asian swing and looked forward to every moment on the court. It’s unfortunate to stop earlier than planned. After trying to train, I realized the injury was more serious than I thought. Now I will return to Europe to meet with the medical team and focus on recovery, step by step.", Krejcikova shared on the platform X (formerly Twitter) on September 29.

Her registration for the WTA 125 Angers event indicates positive progress in Krejcikova’s physical condition. This may also be an opportunity for the Czech player to regain match rhythm before the short break and prepare for the 2026 season.

Since winning her second Grand Slam at Wimbledon 2024, Krejcikova has faced significant physical challenges. She missed the entire first four months of 2025 due to injury and only returned to competition in May. This year, Krejcikova holds a modest record of 16 wins and 9 losses at the WTA Tour level. The injury impact caused her ranking to drop to 66th in the world, after once reaching No. 2 in 2022.

At a time when most top names or top 100 players without goals have rested to prepare for 2026, Barbora Krejcikova—a Grand Slam champion—participating in a WTA 125 Challenger event is a big surprise. Other notable entrants include Elsa Jacquemot, Alycia Parks, and Katie Boulter, among others.

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