London, June 11 (UNI) Defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova failed to reach the second round at Queen's Club, as the 29-year-old Czech lost to Rebecca Sramkova of Slovakia
6-4, 6-3 at the WTA 500 event here.
Krejcikova started her campaign at Queen's Club in west London as the seventh seed in the women's singles main draw, but was outplayed by 28-year-old Sramkova after one hour and 15 minutes on Tuesday.
Last year, Krejcikova celebrated her first Grand Slam win since the French Open in 2021, but withdrew from this year's Australian Open due to a back injury and had been out of action until May.
World No. 41 Sramkova's next opponent is Emma Raducanu, as the home favorite smashed Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa 6-1, 6-2.
"I think it was a very clean performance. I'm really pleased with what I was able to put out on the court despite any first-round nerves," said the 22-year-old former U.S. Open champion.
Raducanu's compatriots Katie Boulter and Heather Watson also enjoyed opening-round wins in front of their home crowd.
Boulter, 28, edged out Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-4 after battling against the Australian qualifier in two hours and 21 minutes.
Wild card Watson saw off world No.27 Yulia Putintseva 6-4, 6-3 to set up a second-round clash with former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.
China's Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen is the tournament's top seed. The world No.5 has received a first round bye and will play against McCartney Kessler from the United States in the second round on Thursday.
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