Wimbledon: Vondrousova sweeps past Jabeur, becomes first unseeded woman to win in Open era
- Marketa Vondrousova claims shock 6-4, 6-4 win over big favourite Ons Jabeur
- Czech player claims first grand slam title after losing French Open final in 2019
.png?itok=arIb17P0)
Marketa Vondrousova became the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon in the Open era as the Czech swept to a shock 6-4, 6-4 victory over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in Saturday’s final.
As the first unseeded woman in the Wimbledon final in 60 years, Vondrousova was a heavy underdog against sixth-ranked Jabeur.
But the 24-year-old upset the odds on Centre Court to win her maiden grand slam title at the second attempt after losing to Ash Barty in the 2019 French Open final.
Vondrousova joins Jana Novotna and Petra Kvitova as the only Czech women to win a Wimbledon title.
She is just the ninth unseeded champion at a grand slam tournament.
Vondrousova’s triumph completed a remarkable comeback after a rash of injuries stalled her promising career.
Just 12 months ago, she was an injured bystander at Wimbledon, reduced to watching her best friend Miriam Kolodziejova attempt to qualify for the main draw.
Vondrousova’s second wrist surgery had ruled the Olympic silver medallist out for six months, although her absence from the tour at least allowed her the space and time to get married.
She was the second-lowest ranked player to reach the Wimbledon final – only Serena Williams in 2018 was lower at 181.
So unexpected was her run that she told her husband Stepan Simek to stay at home in Prague to look after their cat Frankie until the final, when a pet sitter was found to allow her partner to make the trip to Wimbledon.
“I don’t really know what’s happening now. It’s an amazing feeling,” THE 24-year-old said during the trophy ceremony. “After everything I’ve been through – I had a cast last year [at] this time – it’s just amazing that I can stand here and hold this. Tennis is crazy.”
After being sidelined from April to October, she finished last season ranked just 99th. She arrived at Wimbledon 42nd and was the first unseeded woman to even reach the final at the All England Club in 60 years – the last, 1963 runner-up Billie Jean King, was seated in the front row of the Royal Box on Saturday alongside Kate, the Princess of Wales.
