Marketa Vondrousova arrived at the All England Club a year ago unable to play tennis. She has a cast on her left wrist that has been surgically repaired, so her visit is limited to touring around London with her sister and cheering on a friend who is competing at Wimbledon.
This trip was so much more memorable: She went away as a Grand Slam champion.
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Vondrousova became the first woman to win Wimbledon on Saturday, returning in each set to win 6-4, 6-4 over 2022 runner-up Ons Jabeur in the final.
“I really don’t know what’s going on. It’s a great feeling,” Vondrousova, a 24-year-old left-hander from the Czech Republic, said during the trophy ceremony. “After everything I’ve been through – I was in a cast last year (at) this time – it’s amazing that I can stand here and hold this. Tennis is crazy.”
After being sidelined from April to October, she finished last season in 99th place. She made it to Wimbledon for the 42nd time and was the first underrated woman to even make it to the match. finalist at the All England Club after 60 years – 1963 runner-up Billie Jean King, was seated in the front row of the Royal Box on Saturday with Kate, Princess of Wales.
After the match, King gave Vondrousova a welcoming hug and told her, “The first time there’s no seed. I love it.”
The Center Court’s retractable roof was closed for the final, shielding everyone from the 20 mph (30 kph) winds outside and that presumably allowed for the blows. Vondrousova’s smooth forehand hit the spot repeatedly. Her blows don’t leave the same sense of tension as Jabeur’s hits.
Vondrousova lost in the final of the French Open 2019 as a teenager. This afternoon, she took the lead in every set but took the last four games of the first set, then the last three of the second.
How are you going to celebrate?
“Maybe I’ll have some beer,” Vondrouova said, prompting giggles from fans. “It’s been a really tiring two weeks. And I’m just trying to get my spirits up in the last few days. I was nervous before the game, and I’m really grateful.”
Jabeur dropped to 0-3 in the grand final. The 28-year-old from Tunisia is the only Arab woman and the only North African woman to have come this far in singles at any Grand Slam.
But she lost to Elena Rybakina at the All England Club 12 months ago and to No. 1 Iga Swiatek at the US Open last September.
“I think this is the most painful loss of my career,” Jabeur said, pausing to wipe away a tear.
“Today is going to be a tough day for me, but I won’t give up,” she said. “I will come back stronger and win the Grand Slam one day.”
It’s hard to imagine Vondrousova winning a Grand Slam title earlier this two weeks.
She has trailed 1-4 in her previous Wimbledon appearances, reaching the second round only once on its turf, before winning 7-0 in a match that included wins over opponents. five seeds.
Against No. 6 Jabeur, Vondrousova was constantly falling behind a bit. In the first set, she went 2-0 down, then 4-2, before scoring 16 of the last 18 points.
In the second set, the difference was 3-1 and 4-3.
But Jabeur’s mistakes continued to happen: She would finish with 31 optional errors, while Vondrousova made just 13.
During the halftime break, Jabeur went into the dressing room. When she returned, she immediately made another mistake, and the audience made a fuss to show their support. Another mistake gave Vondrousova a break point, and Jabeur rewarded it with another shot into the net. With 45 minutes remaining, Vondrousova led a set and a break.
Then that’s when Jabeur started a big change. She won three games in a row to take a 3-1 lead, signaling perhaps the kind of comeback she produced after giving up the opening set before beating Rybakina, the No. 2. Aryna Sabalenka and US Open 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu.
The crowd is pulling in the famous Jabeur, nicknamed the Minister of Happiness for her manners on and off the court, the level of support they are providing increases with her level of competition .
It doesn’t last.
Vondrousova overcame that bright spot, and with her husband accompanying her for the first time during the tournament, she made it to the finish line. Their first wedding anniversary is Sunday.
When Vondrousova finished the match by putting her arm up to block a volley, she fell onto the grass, then lay on her back and covered her face and face with her hands, the happiest she’s ever been on the court.
