WTA Eastbourne – Quarterfinal Preview
Varvara Gracheva vs Barbora Krejcikova
Date: 26 June 2025 | Time: 12:00 CEST
Surface: Grass | Location: Eastbourne
🧠 Form & Context
Varvara Gracheva
🚀 Qualifier on a roll: Five wins in six days (two qualies + two main-draw victories).
🌱 4–1 on grass this swing: Handling the low bounce well with compact swings.
🔄 Season revival: 15–16 overall but SF in Paris 250 and now first grass QF of her career.
⚠️ Streaky baseline hitter: When the forehand goes, errors pile up quickly.
Barbora Krejcikova
⏳ Match-tightening: Two three-set escapes (Dart, Burrage) after a 1–4 slide since April.
🏆 Former Roland Garros champ: Still seeking rhythm in 2025 (3–3 W/L, plagued by niggles).
🎾 Grass pedigree: Wimbledon QF last year; deft slice, net instincts, and wide left-hand serve.
🔋 Doubles workload light: Conserving energy for singles push.
🔍 Match Breakdown
Gracheva will look to rush Krejcikova with early ball striking, taking time away and pinning the Czech behind the baseline. Her backhand redirect down the line is a key weapon when confident.
Krejcikova’s edge lies in variety: low slices to disrupt rhythm, sneaky serve placement, and opportunistic forays to net. If she makes returns deep and keeps points awkward, Gracheva’s error count can climb fast. The Czech’s recent three-setters show steel but also lingering inconsistency—another slow start could be punished.
Expect quick exchanges and momentum swings; the player who manages first-serve percentage and tames nerves in tight moments should prevail.
🔮 Prediction
Prediction: Krejcikova in 3 sets – expect pockets of brilliance from both before the veteran steadies late.
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