Robin Montgomery turned in an outstanding performance at the WTA 250 tournament in’s-Hertogenbosch, making her way through qualifying rounds without dropping more than one set – against Daria Kasatkina in round 32 – all without dropping even one game during her tournament run. Following three dominant straight set victories over former US junior champion Barbora Krejcikova (former Grand Slam champion), Montgomery reached her highly anticipated Libema Open final; yet after Krejcikova withdrew just minutes prior due to illness! Montgomery became victorious on that occasion as she won it outright and took home this trophy instead.
“I regret having to withdraw from today’s Libema Open final due to illness,” Krejcikova stated in an official release from the tournament. “After consulting with my medical team it has become evident that I am no longer capable of competing today.
The 2024 Wimbledon champion expressed how difficult the decision was to miss the final. “I was really looking forward to the opportunity to play in the final and compete for a title, but today it’s not possible,” she added.
Despite her disappointment, the 30-year-old took a moment to praise her opponent’s outstanding week. “I would also like to congratulate Robin for a great week here and wish her the very best for the rest of the season. I am disappointed to end my tournament in this way, but I will focus on recovering as quickly as possible and look forward to returning to competition soon.”
With Krejcikova’s withdrawal, the 21-year-old American secured her first WTA singles title. Prior to this, Montgomery had reached her career-high ranking of No. 95 around this time last year but suffered a significant setback due to injury between June 2025 and April 2026, which stalled her progress during those ten months.
The Libema Open marked only Montgomery’s third WTA Tour-level event this season, following early exits in Bogota and the Madrid Open. Currently ranked No. 484, she became the lowest-ranked player to win a WTA tour title since Elina Svitolina, who was ranked No. 508 when she captured Strasbourg three years ago.
Montgomery also joined the ranks of qualifiers who have won WTA titles this season, following Elisabetta Cocciaretto in Hobart and Sara Bejlek in Abu Dhabi.
While Montgomery celebrated a breakthrough in her career, Krejcikova faced yet another frustrating setback. Persistent injury and fitness struggles have repeatedly hindered the Czech star’s momentum in recent times.
Barbora Krejcikova’s Ongoing Injury Struggles Post-Wimbledon Triumph
This recent withdrawal adds to a string of physical challenges for the two-time Grand Slam champion. Since winning the 2024 Wimbledon title, Krejcikova has battled multiple injuries, missing a large portion of the 2025 season due to back and knee issues and competing in only nine tournaments last year.
Her difficulties continued into 2026, when she sustained a further injury in February, sidelining her for nearly three months. This disruption impacted her comeback plans and raised concerns about her fitness heading into the critical part of the tennis calendar.
In contrast, Robin Montgomery’s impressive run at the Libema Open stands out as one of the most inspiring stories of the 2026 season.
Montgomery stands to receive 268 WTA ranking points as she climbs an estimated 291 places in upcoming rankings – pushing her up from world No. 193 into 193rd position in total.
As Wimbledon approaches, all eyes will turn towards Krejcikova as she attempts to manage her recovery with hopes that she may compete at All-England Club this year.