Vondrousova Continues Czech-Born Tradition By Winning Wimbledon

Marketa Vondrousova, Wimbledon
Marketa Vondrousova (photo: Jürgen Hasenkopf)

WIMBLEDON/WASHINGTON, July 15, 2023 (by Michael Dickens)

The tradition of Czech-born women’s champions at the Wimbledon Championships has just gotten richer.

What began in 1978 with the excellence of nine-time champion Martina Navratilova, continued with the emotional 1998 victory of Jana Novotna and evolved into this century with two-time winner Petra Kvitova in 2011 and 2014, now includes the unlikely Marketa Vondrousova as the latest Wimbledon Ladies’ champion.

On Saturday afternoon, with the roof closed on the women’s final for just the second time to provide relief from the howling winds outside that were gusting upwards of 50 miles per hour, the 42nd-ranked Vondrousova of the Czech Republic made Wimbledon history by becoming the first unseeded and lowest-ranked Ladies’ Singles champion. Pretty remarkable for someone who arrived at Wimbledon with just four wins on grass in her career and just one WTA title to her name.

The 24-year-old, tall and tattooed lefty from Prague with the lack of nerves upset World No. 6 Ons Jabeur of Tunisia, 6-4, 6-4, to win her first Grand Slam title in just her second major final, following her 2019 final defeat to Ashleigh Barty at the French Open.

Vondrousova hit a lunging volley winner – just her 10th winner of the all-too-brief final – after defending her side of Centre Court so well for 80 minutes. Quickly, the title match was over and the celebration began for Vondrousova, who sank to her knees after she won on the second championship point, then rolled over on her back. It was her third win against Jabeur this season.

From the opening point of the match on Jabeur’s serve, won by the Tunisian with a perfect lob landing right on the baseline, it appeared that everything was destined to go right and she would find redemption from her heartbreaking 2022 Wimbledon final loss to Elena Rybakina, whom she eliminated in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. Instead, things began to unravel for Jabeur, 28, nicknamed the Minister of Happiness for her friendly demeanor at home in her North Africa country as well as on the tennis court.

Jabeur had game points in the first six games of the match and led by 2-0 and 4-2. However, she was broken three times by Vondrousova, who immediately served a love game and won 16 of the last 18 points to take the 41-minute first set 6-4 over an edgy Jabeur. The Tunisian committed 15 of her 31 unforced errors, while Vondrousova clearly dealt better with the nerves and won the last four games of the opening set while covering the court so very well. Jabeur played probably her worst set of the fortnight, winning only 44 percent of her service points.

Vondrousova, who entered Wimbledon as the No. 7 Czech player but will rise to No. 10 in all of women’s tennis, broke to open the second set. However, Jabeur regained her focus and broke back with a lovely backhand winner. Then, she consolidated the break to lead 2-1. Soon, though, Jabeur faultered again. Serving at 4-all, she was broken for the sixth time and Vondrousova promptly served out the title victory.

The surprising outcome provided a remarkable finish for Vondrousova, a silver medalist at the Tokyo Olympics, who a year ago was a spectator at Wimbledon with a cast on her left wrist. Fast forward to today and she’s lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish as champion and celebrating with family – including her husband Stepan, who arrived from Prague in time for the final – and friends. Czech men’s great and Hall of Famer Jan Kodes, who won the 1973 Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles title, sat in her box and was among the many well-wishers and Navratilova had a front-row seat in the Royal Box.

Meanwhile, it was Jabeur’s third loss in a major final – all in the last 12 months – which also included a disappointing loss to World No. 1 Iga Swiatek at last year’s US Open.

During the trophy ceremony, Jabeur, a winner of 28 matches on grass since the start of 2021 – most on the WTA Tour – won the hearts of fans even if she didn’t win the title after beating four Grand Slam singles champions in order en route to the championship match. The 15,000-strong Centre Court crowd applauded loudly for her as she broke down in tears and was consoled by Catherine, the Princess of Wales. As the Royal Patron of the All England Club, she presented Jabeur with her sterling runner-up dish.

“This is very, very tough. I think this is the most painful loss in my career. I promise, I will come back one day and win this tournament,” Jabeur said through the tears, her eyes welling as she spoke. The defeat weighed heavily upon her.

Later, during her press conference, Jabeur, who would have become the first African-born Grand Slam singles champion and the first from the Arab world, expressed her disappointment. She admitted: “You cannot force things. If it wasn’t meant to be, it’s not meant to be.”

By contrast, Vonrousova was joyful and beamed a big smile. When it was her time to receive her champion’s prize, the breathless Czech said: “I don’t really know what’s happening right now. It’s an amazing feeling. I had a cast last year this time. This is amazing I can stand here.

“Tennis is crazy.”

Top seeds Koolhof and Skupski win first major title together 

No. 1 seeds Wesley Koolhof of the Netherlands and Neal Skupski of Great Britain won their maiden major crown by capturing the Gentlemen’s Doubles title on Centre Court Saturday.

The Dutch-British team outlasted 15th-seeded Marcel Granollers of Spain and Horacio Zeballos of Argentina, 6-4, 6-4, in one hour, 17 minutes. It was their first win over the Spanish-Argentine team in three tries. They have now won nine doubles titles together on tour since forming in 2022. Meanwhile, it was the third major final setback for Granollers and Zeballos, who also lost the title matches of the 2019 US Open and 2021 Wimbledon.

“[It’s] very special,” said Koolhof. “It started when the doors [to Centre Court] opened, and one and half hours later to hold this [trophy] is very, very special.” 

Skupski added: “I don’t know what to say. Growing up watching this amazing championships, starting off a young boy at Palmerston Tennis Club in Liverpool. Going out there with my dad, and then obviously growing up with my brother (Ken) who has been very influential in my career. 

“This feeling at the moment doesn’t get better. Me and Wesley came together 18 months ago, and this year this was one of our goals. To win a Grand Slam. Now we’ve done it, it feels very special.”

In the Royal Box

Among those spotted on TV sitting in the Royal Box for the women’s final in addition to the Princess of Wales were: Hall of Famers Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, former Wimbledon champs Ann Jones, Angela Mortimer, Marion Bartoli and Conchita Martinez, longtime BBC and Wimbledon presenter Sue Barker, actresses Dame Maggie Smith and Issa Rae, actor Andrew Garfield, musician Nick Jonas and actor, director and producer Lin-Manuel Miranda, best known for creating the Broadway hit musical Hamilton.

By the numbers

Marketa Vondrousova is the 59th women’s singles Grand Slam winner and the 24th in Wimbledon history. … Vondrousova beat five seeded players during her journey to the Wimbledon title.  … She joins Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna and Petra Kvitova as the only Czech-born women to win a Wimbledon single title.

“Quotable …”

“I told her she’s strong and she’s gonna have many more.”

– Marketa Vondrousova on what she told Ons Jabeur as she was leaving the court.

 

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