Wimbledon 2026 Round 2: Barbora Krejcikova vs Mirra Andreeva – how to watch live for free
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Two Grand Slam champions meet on Centre Court on Wednesday, July 1st, in one of the most anticipated second-round matches of Wimbledon 2026. Barbora Krejcikova, the 2024 Wimbledon champion, faces fifth seed Mirra Andreeva, who arrives at SW19 as the reigning Roland Garros champion – the youngest player to win the Parisian title in the 21st century at just 19 years old. Both players won their first-round matches in straight sets, setting up a blockbuster Centre Court showdown.
Krejcikova has battled multiple injuries through 2026, carrying a 9-6 record on the season. She reached the final in 's-Hertogenbosch but had to withdraw due to illness before the deciding match, then opened Wimbledon with a straight-sets win. Andreeva has hit the ground running as a Major champion, defeating Magda Linette 7-5, 6-4 in Round 1 to extend her Wimbledon record to 9-3. Their head-to-head stands at 3-1 in Andreeva's favor overall, with their only grass-court meeting in 2023 on these same grounds ending early when Krejcikova retired at 6-3, 4-0.
BBC iPlayer streams every Wimbledon match free in the UK, including Centre Court. Outside the UK, the stream is geo-restricted – but a VPN with a UK server unlocks it from anywhere. We recommend NordVPN for fast, reliable access to BBC iPlayer.
Broadcast schedule
| Detail | Information |
| Date | Wednesday, July 1st, 2026 |
| Match start time | Second on Centre Court – estimated ~4:00 PM BST / 11:00 AM ET (depends on Sinner vs Borges length) |
| Court | Centre Court |
| United Kingdom | BBC One / BBC Two and BBC iPlayer (free) |
| United States | ESPN and ESPN2 (paid) |
| Australia | Stan Sport (paid) |
| Europe | Eurosport / discovery+ (paid) |
Watch Wimbledon 2026 for free with a VPN
BBC iPlayer in the UK streams every Wimbledon match for free. If you're outside the UK, connect to a UK server with a VPN to unlock the stream from anywhere.
- Download and install a VPN on your device. I recommend NordVPN, now 75% OFF!
- Connect to a UK server to unlock BBC iPlayer – the free broadcaster for Wimbledon 2026 in the UK.
- Go to bbc.co.uk/iplayer and create a free BBC account. Any valid UK postcode works for registration.
- Search for Wimbledon, select Centre Court, and enjoy the match.
Why you need a VPN
BBC iPlayer is the only broadcaster streaming Wimbledon completely free, covering all 18 courts including every Centre Court match. It requires no subscription and no payment – only a free BBC account and a UK IP address. Viewers outside the UK are geo-blocked and will see an error message instead of the stream.
A VPN routes your connection through a server in the UK, replacing your IP address with a UK one that BBC iPlayer accepts. This is the standard approach for UK viewers traveling abroad who want to access their usual free stream, and for international viewers who want the only confirmed free English-language Wimbledon broadcast. Once connected to a UK server, iPlayer works normally – you can watch Centre Court live, switch between courts on the Red Button, and access replays on demand.
Viewers in the US need ESPN or ESPN2 (paid subscription). In Australia, Stan Sport carries Wimbledon on a paid subscription. Neither market has a confirmed free broadcaster for Wimbledon 2026. For a full comparison of the fastest options for BBC iPlayer, see our best VPNs for streaming guide.
Best VPNs for streaming Wimbledon 2026
| VPN | Best for | Speed retention | Price from | |
| NordVPN | Overall speed and reliability | 86% (NordLynx) | $3.49/month | Read review |
| Surfshark | Multiple devices | 80% | $2.49/month | Read review |
| Proton VPN | Privacy-first users | 81% | $2.99/month | Read review |
All three include UK servers, a 30-day money-back guarantee, and reliable BBC iPlayer access in Cybernews testing.
Krejcikova vs Andreeva: match preview
Barbora Krejcikova – 2024 Wimbledon champion, Czech Republic
Krejcikova won the 2024 Wimbledon title and has also won the French Open, making her a two-time Grand Slam champion. She is the defending Wimbledon women's singles champion returning to the courts where she has won 16 career singles matches – more than at any other Major. Her 2026 season has been difficult, with a 9-6 record at tour level due to recurring injuries. She showed promising grass-court form by reaching the final in 's-Hertogenbosch, but had to withdraw before the match due to illness. She recovered to win her first-round Wimbledon match in straight sets and will be looking to prove her grass-court game remains elite.
Mirra Andreeva – 5th seed, Russia, 19 years old
Andreeva won the 2026 Roland Garros title, becoming the youngest Grand Slam champion of the 21st century at 19. She is the first teenager to compete at Wimbledon as a women's Top 5 seed since Caroline Wozniacki in 2010. Wimbledon has been a happy hunting ground: she made the second week on her debut in 2023 at age 16 and reached the quarterfinals in 2025. Her first-round win over Linette – 7-5, 6-4 – was composed and efficient. Andreeva's heavy groundstrokes and exceptional baseline defense translate well to grass when she is moving well and avoiding the emotional letdown that can follow a first Major title.
Head-to-head: Andreeva leads 3-1 overall, 7-2 in sets. Their only meeting on grass came at Wimbledon 2023, when Krejcikova retired at 6-3, 4-0 – leaving the grass head-to-head unfinished business. Three of their four meetings have been on hard courts.
Wimbledon history: Krejcikova is the defending champion, with 16 career singles wins at the tournament. She has also won Wimbledon doubles twice. Andreeva reached the quarterfinals in 2025 and made the second week in 2023.
Matchup: Andreeva is the form player and holds both the head-to-head edge and the momentum of a Grand Slam title. Krejcikova's grass-court instincts and Wimbledon experience make her a genuine threat on her best day. The key question is fitness – a healthy Krejcikova on Centre Court is dangerous for anyone. Andreeva is the slight favorite, but this is closer than the overall H2H suggests.
When is Krejcikova vs Andreeva at Wimbledon 2026?
Wednesday, July 1st, 2026. The match is second on Centre Court, which opens at 1:30 PM BST / 8:30 AM ET. Based on the length of Sinner vs Borges preceding it, the estimated start is ~4:00 PM BST / 11:00 AM ET – check BBC Sport or the Wimbledon app for a live update on the day.
Can I watch Krejcikova vs Andreeva for free?
Yes – BBC iPlayer streams the match free in the UK. Outside the UK, connect to a UK server with a VPN such as NordVPN and access iPlayer with a free BBC account.
What channel is the Krejcikova vs Andreeva match on?
UK: BBC One or BBC Two / BBC iPlayer (free). US: ESPN or ESPN2 (paid). Australia: Stan Sport (paid). Europe: Eurosport / discovery+ (paid).
Who is the favorite to win Krejcikova vs Andreeva?
Andreeva is the slight favorite as the higher seed and current Roland Garros champion. Krejcikova's Wimbledon pedigree and grass-court game make this closer than the overall head-to-head suggests, particularly if she is fully fit.
What is the Krejcikova vs Andreeva head-to-head record?
Andreeva leads 3-1 overall. Their only meeting on grass – Wimbledon 2023 – ended when Krejcikova retired at 6-3, 4-0. The two have never completed a grass-court match.
