Emma Navarro reveals how she felt knocking out an injured Barbora Krejcikova to reach the Wimbledon fourth round

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Emma Navarro is through to the fourth round at Wimbledon for the second consecutive year after knocking out defending champion Barbora Krejcikova.

Navarro came back from a set down to defeat Krejcikova 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, setting up a second career clash with Mirra Andreeva in the next round.

The American has now beaten two former Wimbledon champions at the All England Club this year, having overcome two-time winner Petra Kvitova in her opening matchup.

The win over Krejcikova didn’t come the way she would have wanted it, however, as the Czech star was visibly struggling with an injury during the clash, which Navarro acknowledged in her on-court interview.

Emma Navarro reacts after beating Barbora Krejcikova at Wimbledon

After the match, Navarro said: “Yeah, it was really tough out here today. I think, probably neither of us played our best tennis.

“And I know she was dealing with some injuries at times and I was dealing with whatever I was dealing with over there, and, yeah, I think it was really tough today, but I’m just so grateful to be playing here at Wimbledon and be playing in front of you guys.

“I have to remind myself how special of an opportunity this is when I’m out here, even in the thick of battle, you know, it’s not easy.

“It means the world to me to be able to play the sport I love in front of you guys, and, you know, the most prestigious tournament in the world, so it’s awesome to be here.”

On competing against an injured player, she said: “Yeah, you know, it’s really not easy; part of you is telling yourself, you know, just put a bunch of balls in the court and that’s all you have to do.

“But then, you know, she’s an amazing player, injuries or no injuries, so, you know, that’s not good enough.

“And then you trick yourself into, you know, taking too much off the ball and not playing the way you want to play.

“I think I was able to serve a bit better and gained a little bit of traction on my return games and from the ground, just played a little bit stronger and you know, I like to play scrappy, so I was able to play a few more scrappy points, get a few more balls back in the court.”

A new Wimbledon champion to be crowned for the eighth straight year

With Krejcikova’s title defence coming to an end in the fourth round, a new women’s champion will be crowned for the eighth consecutive season.

Since 2016, when Serena Williams went back-to-back in SW19, there has been a winner each year.

The last three champions, Elena Rybakina, Marketa Vondrousova and Krejcikova, have now all exited the tournament.

The top seeds remaining at Wimbledon this year include Aryna Sabalenka, Andreeva, and Iga Swiatek, all of whom have never won the title.