Dual major winner Barbora Krejcikova’s draw superstition didn’t stand a chance of holding up when prospective US Open 2025 quarterfinal opponent Jessica Pegula was revealed ahead of her on-court interview on Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Krejcikova was hardly an anomaly among peers who were intent on remaining unaware of their next opponent too far ahead of time, but on this occasion the resurgent former world No.2 was happy to accept it was beyond her control.
The 29-year-old had just become the first player to save eight match points in a victory at the US Open as she defied an inspired Taylor Townsend as well as the American’s rowdy home crowd for her second New York quarterfinal.
Compatriots Marketa Vondrousova and Jiri Lehecka’s fourth-round victories bookended an impressive day for the Czechs on Monday.
On Tuesday, two-time semifinalist Karolina Muchova booked her third straight quarterfinal at Flushing Meadows, which ensured three Czech women in a Slam quarterfinal for the first time since Wimbledon 2014 when Petra Kvitova went all the way.
“What a match. Yeah, what a match. I mean, just four months ago I was off the court,” Krejcikova said. “I couldn’t play, I couldn’t pretty much practise, I had a huge pain in my back and I didn’t know if I’d ever be back so, I mean, now here I am. This is huge, I still cannot believe it.”
It marked the second straight match Krejcikova rebounded from a set down to deny an American, having done so previously against 10th seed Emma Navarro.
As she had now been made aware of well ahead of time, she would face a local again in fourth seed Pegula.
“To be honest I’m totally enjoying this crowd, even though it’s not for me, it’s for the Americans, it’s fine,” she said. “I love the atmosphere, I love when they’re cheering and making it huge … I wish we had such a tournament in Czech Republic, and we had all our fans rooting for me.”
A story of resilience by Barbora Krejcikova. pic.twitter.com/Yjn6LB5SFB
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) August 31, 2025
“I’m just enjoying, I’m having fun on court even when things aren’t going well. I was sidelined for six months and didn’t know if I’d ever be able to play again. It’s a huge privilege and I really appreciate that I can be here and enjoy playing some tennis.”
Krejcikova had been this far before, though not since she emphatically went all the way on the lawns at Wimbledon last year.
If she needed any further superstition as a catalyst for her latest comeback from an extended stint on the sidelines, memories of her first Grand Slam singles title run in Paris would serve her well.
The last time she saved a match point at a major, against Maria Sakkari in the Roland Garros 2021 semifinals, she went on to win the title in her first Slam final.
“If one point didn't go my way, I would have been searching for flights,” she said following the 1-6 7-6(13) 6-3 escape against Townsend.
Marketa Vondrousova beats Rybakina in three and is moving on! pic.twitter.com/5llJFfpoWx
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) September 1, 2025
A first-round exit at Flushing Meadows brought the curtain down on the career of fellow two-time Slam champion and former world No.2 Kvitova, the standard-bearer of the current generation of Czech tennis.
Krejcikova and a throng of compatriots ensured there was still ample depth to help carry that flag into the future.
The 26-year-old Vondrousova continued her comeback from injury on Monday with her most definitive result at a major this season when she won a battle of former Wimbledon champions to oust a third straight seed, Elena Rybakina. It set a showdown against reigning women’s champion Aryna Sabalenka.
The 11th seed Muchova held off her Paris Olympics doubles partner, Linda Noskova, in the third round before she secured a return to the last eight and a showdown with two-time former champion Naomi Osaka following a three-set triumph over Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk on Tuesday.
“When we see each other here in the locker [room], I think we are all happy for each other and we talk and all that,” she said. “Obviously with Marketa, we are from the same club, so I know her a little better than Bora. But with both of them, we just [have a] nice relationship, we support each other. Three of us in the quarters, it's so nice for our country.”
Safe to say Czech tennis is in a good place 🇨🇿👏#USOpen pic.twitter.com/lI1FQl6Kb2
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) September 1, 2025
A Roland Garros finalist two years ago, Muchova said Czechia’s prolonged success was less down to a national system and more about access to playing opportunities.
“I was practising most of the time in my hometown, always found myself a coach and built my team,” she said.
“I think for most of us, it was this way. It's either family or parents helping out. Then when I was older, I moved to Prague and went to the bigger club where there was more players to have more opportunities.
“I wouldn't say it was a system for me, but it was nice that we had a lot of tournaments that we could compete [against] each other in Czech. So that would be probably the one thing that I will tell you is great in Czech Republic.
Fourth seed Taylor Fritz foiled 21st seed Tomas Machac’s bid for a maiden Slam quarterfinal, but 20th seed Lehecka’s earlier four-set triumph over Adrian Mannarino secured his first last-eight appearance at a major since Australian Open 2023.
The 23-year-old returned this season following back surgery last year and admitted he had grown as a person since his breakout dash to the last eight at Melbourne Park in 2023.
Assured of a career-high ranking already, he faces second seed Carlos Alcaraz, an opponent he beat in Doha in February, for the fourth time on Wednesday.
“I needed to grow up a little bit as a person. I'm more mature now, I think, and I think that's also part of the game … The way I see it is I think that we are kind of privileged that we have the chance to compete, you know, to do what we like, what we love.
“I must say that this point of view changed for me last year when I was injured, you know. Back then I remember that I was coming for a treatment to the hospital, and I saw little kids who were very, very sick, and they were enjoying life, and I was, like, feeling like that it's the end of the world for me, and I can't play only because my back hurts.
“That was the moment when I really, like, something switched. Since that moment I kind of feel that, of course, I love to win … but at the same time when I'm on the court, I'm not getting myself under more pressure than is necessary. That's something I would say that's changed.”
Krejcikova, Vondrousova, Muchova and Lehecka are savouring a return to a Grand Slam quarterfinal, having each persevered through lengthy periods on the sidelines due to injuries.
There’s little point trying to hide from the names of prospective opponents at this stage.