Barbora Krejcikova’s campaign has come to an abrupt close in Beijing, where the Czech star was forced to retire from her third-round match at the WTA 1000 China Open against American McCartney Kessler. What looked like a promising Asian swing for the former Grand Slam champion ended in frustration, as another injury struck just when her form was rising again.
The Match That Changed Everything
The contest had started brightly for Krejcikova. Despite a nasty fall early in the match that required her left knee to be treated and heavily strapped, she stormed through the opening set 6–1. But Kessler refused to fade, turning the momentum in the second set and leveling the score. By the time the American surged ahead 3–0 in the decider, Krejcikova’s body gave way. She retired moments later, her Beijing campaign — and her season — over.
From Top 10 to Recovery Mode
Krejcikova’s 2025 season has been shaped by injury from start to finish. A back problem sidelined her at the beginning of the year, and though she returned in May, she struggled to find rhythm. The sharpest blow came at Wimbledon, where she failed to defend her title and tumbled dramatically in the rankings, sliding from the Top 10 to the edge of the Top 80 in just two months.
Still, her resilience showed. Runs to the Cincinnati round of 16 and the US Open quarterfinals gave her a foothold, and a solid performance at the Korea Open suggested she was building momentum at the right time. In Beijing, straight-sets wins over Anna Blinkova and Ekaterina Alexandrova underlined that recovery. Then came the cruel twist.
“Moments Like These Are Never Easy”
After the retirement, Krejcikova posted a heartfelt update to her fans on social media.
“Moments like these are never easy. I was excited about this Asian tour and enjoying every moment, but unfortunately, I had to stop earlier than expected. After trying yesterday, it became clear the injury was more serious than I thought. I’ll now return to Europe, meet with my medical team, and focus on recovery step by step.”
She also expressed gratitude for the support she’s received:
“Even though I hoped the season wouldn’t take such a turn, I’m thankful for the incredible experiences and the wonderful encouragement from all of you. Every message means the world to me. I look forward to coming back stronger, playing the game I love, and seeing you all again soon.”
Rankings Hit and What Comes Next
Krejcikova had planned to finish her year at the Wuhan Open and Ningbo Open, but those appearances are now off the table. Ranked No. 34 this week (No. 32 in the live rankings), she still carried the points from last year’s WTA Finals semifinal run. With those set to expire and no chance to replace them, she is projected to fall outside the Top 50 for the first time since 2020.
For the 29-year-old, it marks not only the end of her 2025 season but also the start of another long recovery. She will not return to competition until 2026, a year that now looms as a decisive chapter in her career.