They're crazy for Cate at Wimbledon! Two-time Academy Award winner Cate Blanchett, known for her starring roles in The Lord of the Rings and Carol, as well as her breakout as Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth and its sequel Elizabeth: The Golden Age, has been a popular figure even amongst her fellow A-listers in the early days of the Championships this year.
Take it from Barbora Krejcikova and Daria Kasatkina.
Defending champion Krejcikova, who has been limited to just five tournaments this year due to a lingering back injury and also withdrew from Eastbourne last week with a leg problem, needed to conjure up some magic to navigate past Alexandra Eala on Centre Court on Tuesday. After dropping the first set, Krejcikova rounded into form to top the Filipina youngster in three sets, and avoid the fate of a first-round exit that befell her compatriot, Marketa Vondrousova, as the defending champion last year.
Read more: Alexandra Eala tests defending Wimbledon champ Barbora Krejcikova in first round
To reporters afterwards, Krejcikova admitted to looking forward to the storied traditions afforded the defending champion, including opening the Centre Court slate of play on the first Tuesday, since she lifted her second career Grand Slam singles title last summer.
But having Blanchett in the stands was an unexpected boost, she also confessed on social media.
