Let’s be frank: Barbora Krejcikova’s injury-plagued 2025 has been difficult.

But 353 days after she wrote what she calls her own “fairytale” by hoisting the Venus Rosewater Dish, her Wimbledon return in the Day 2 slot traditionally reserved for the defending champion at last accorded the Czech some hard-earned joy.

For a while it looked as if Krejcikova might become the fourth Grand Slam champion to fall victim this year to the exciting 20-year-old Alexandra Eala.

On her Championships and Centre Court debut, the Filipino phenomenon – already a superstar back home – looked capable of adding to Krejcikova’s challenging season.

But after an error-strewn first set, the No.17 seed remembered who was the defending champion here.

On the surface that suits her game so well, she won 12 of the last 15 games to take it 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. Yet in victory, her first words were for her opponent.

“Credit to Alex,” Krejcikova said. “What the hell she played in the first set? Smashing the ball and cleaning the lines – wow, the next generation coming up.

“Six months ago I was in a lot of pain with my back and didn’t know how my career would go. Since I got here I’ve been counting down every minute to this match.

“Walking down from the locker room, having the opportunity to see the trophy and my name on the board was so special. Entering this beautiful court… I’m so happy to experience this again.” 

The two opponents could hardly have walked more contrasting paths this year. Eala was ranked 140 in March when she had jaws dropping in Miami, piling up successive wins over Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, Paula Badosa and Iga Swiatek on her way to the semi-final.

Just last weekend in Eastbourne, she held four championship points over Maya Joint before defeat had her in tears. All the same, her ranking bounded up to 56.

Meanwhile a lower back injury kept Krejcikova out until May, and after two fingertip wins in Eastbourne last week she had to withdraw from the quarter-finals with a right thigh strain.

There was no great sign of that here, but it was just her seventh match of the entire season. The lack of match practice may have contributed to her 19 unforced errors in the first set.

All the same, she broke early in the match, whipping repeated cross court forehands before grabbing her chance with a delicious lob. Southpaw Eala rebounded confidently, aided by a Krejcikova double fault. The champion repelled two set points before Eala – the first woman from the Philippines to play a main draw match here – delivered an unreturnable serve. 

But that serve is not yet a reliable weapon, and in the second set it wavered just as Krejcikova began to find her game. Late in that chapter, the newcomer produced some lovely touches that might have armed her psyche in the decider. Krejcikova would not permit it.

Defeat here may have imperilled the Czech’s place in the top 100. It would also have been the first time in the Open era that for two years in succession, a defending Wimbledon champion had lost in the opening round.

Krejcikova averted both possibilities, and is into the next round.