LONDON — Recent Nottingham Open finalists Marie Bouzkova and Emma Navarro both secured places in the third round at Wimbledon on Thursday, although they reached the last 32 in contrasting fashion.
No. 21 seed Bouzkova recovered from an early break deficit to defeat Italian qualifier Tyra Caterina Grant 7-5, 6-3 and book her third career appearance in the Wimbledon third round.
The Czech, who reached the quarterfinals at the All England Club in 2022, improved her grass-court record this season to 7-2 with another composed performance.
After trailing early in the opening set, Bouzkova steadily regained control, winning four of the final five games before carrying the momentum into the second set to complete the victory in straight sets.
She will next face Liudmila Samsonova, who knocked out No. 15 seed Diana Shnaider 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.
Samsonova, a Wimbledon quarterfinalist last year, leads the pair’s head-to-head record 3-2 on the WTA Tour, although Bouzkova won their only previous meeting on grass.
Navarro, who lost to Bouzkova in the Nottingham final two weeks ago, was forced to work harder before defeating Oksana Selekhmeteva 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.
The American dropped the opening set but responded strongly, raising her level throughout the final two sets to continue her consistent run at Wimbledon.
The victory sends Navarro into the third round at the All England Club for the third consecutive year.
She reached the quarterfinals in 2024 before advancing to the fourth round last season and has now won 14 of her past 18 tour-level matches.
Navarro will next face either No. 12 seed Marta Kostyuk or Anna Blinkova for a place in the fourth round.
