Reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova has revealed her primary motivation for winning her opening match wasn’t necessarily to get through to the second round.

The 29-year-old fought back from losing the first set to win 3-6 6-2 6-1 to avoid fellow Czech Marketa Vondrousova’s swift exit last year when she was the defending champ.

But none of that was front of mind for Krejcikova on match point — instead, she wanted recognition from Australian megastar Cate Blanchett in the Royal Box.

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“Might have won the match point... but let’s be honest, I was really just trying to impress Cate Blanchett,” Krejcikova laughed before noting she had achieved her goal.

“(!!! She clapped.)“

Blanchett sat next to Rebel Wilson and her wife Ramona for the occasion, while Russell Crowe was on the other end behind English golfer Justin Rose.

Rebel Wilson and Cate Blanchett applaud during Barbora Krejcikova’s win on Centre Court. Credit: Getty

Russell Crowe and with fiancee Britney Theriot took in the action. Credit: Getty

Sam Smith in commentary mentioned that it was “extraordinarily wonderful” to see Blanchett among the throng of stars in the Royal Box.

“You actually put people together who would normally never meet, it’s an extraordinary setup and a hot ticket certainly,” she said.

Anne Keothavong also spotted one of her personal favourites in the group.

“We’ve got some A-list Hollywood stars mixed with the likes of Julia Donaldson, who I’m a huge fan of,” she said.

“She has written some incredible children’s books that my children are very familiar with.”

Donaldson wrote The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom among many other books.

Others in the Royal Box included English film and TV identities Sarah Lancashire, Molly-Mae Hague and Alexander Armstrong as well as Formula 1 icon Sir Jackie Stewart, tennis legend Andy Murray’s mother Judy and Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley.

Krejcikova wasn’t the only tennis star excited to see Blanchett.

Australia’s newest contender Daria Kasatkina and fiancee Natalia scored a selfie with the Oscar winner behind the scenes at Wimbledon.

“OMG. Dreams come true,” wrote Natalia, a Winter Olympic silver medallist figure skater.

Meanwhile, Krejcikova entered Wimbledon under an injury cloud after withdrawing from the Eastbourne quarter-finals with a right thigh issue.

It was the last thing she needed after missing the Australian Open — and many more tournaments — with a back injury.

“I was in a lot of pain and I didn’t really know how my career’s going to go,” Krejcikova said of the back problem.

“I’m super happy and super excited that I can be here and that I can play, and play on such a great court.”

Krejcikova said she was motivated seeing her own trophy in the clubhouse.

“I was definitely enjoying the moment,” she said.

“I was really excited for this day and before the match I was really counting down every minute to the match, and when I walked from the locker room it was just very nice and special having that opportunity to see my name there.”

Krejcikova started slowly against Eala with 19 unforced errors in the first set.

But she cleaned up her play and had just 18 total for the rest of the way, often willing herself to victory with a clenched fist and a yell to celebrate points that moved her closer to victory.

Eala was in just her second grand slam but loomed as a threat, having already beaten three top-20 players this year.

The 20-year-old left-hander from the Philippines honed her skills at the Rafael Nadal Academy and broke out with a run to the Miami Open semi-finals earlier this year.