Markéta Vondroušová defied expectations once again during the Wimbledon women’s final on Saturday, defeating the favored Ons Jabeur to become the first unseeded woman in the Open Era to claim victory at the prestigious tournament.
Ranked 42nd in the world, Vondroušová, playing in her second grand slam final, secured a 6-4 6-4 victory over the 6th seed on Centre Court, etching her name in history. Overwhelmed by the magnitude of her accomplishment, she fell onto the grass in celebration.
Five years after a female player with such a low world ranking had reached a Wimbledon final, with Serena Williams accomplishing the feat in 2018 when she was ranked 181st. The last unseeded woman to reach the final was Billie Jean King in 1963.
In the previous year, Vondroušová had been in London as a tourist, still recovering from wrist surgery. No one expected her to reach the championship match at Wimbledon, especially not Vondroušová herself. Her husband had remained in the Czech Republic until the final to care for their cat, Frankie.
Jabeur vs Vondroušová: Jabeur was the fifth victim of Vondroušová at Wimbledon
Jabeur became the fifth-seeded player to succumb to the unpredictable prowess of the 24-year-old in this tournament. Despite having several opportunities to seize control of the match, the Tunisian struggled to overcome Vondroušová’s relentless game.
“Tennis is crazy,” said Vondroušová, former junior number 1 and runner-up at the 2019 French Open. “Yeah, I really don’t know what is happening now, it’s an amazing feeling.”
Jabeur acknowledged that the defeat in the Wimbledon final was the most painful of her career, marking her second consecutive loss in a Wimbledon final and her third loss in a major final. The weight of the occasion, coupled with the pressure of representing not only her nation but an entire continent, and managing her own expectations, dreams, and past disappointments, took a toll on Jabeur’s performance.
Despite coming close to becoming the first Arab and African woman to win a grand slam, Jabeur’s 31 unforced errors proved costly. Her disappointment will likely linger, particularly considering that she only capitalized on four out of ten break-point opportunities. The pursuit of her historic achievement continues, and the missed chances will surely weigh heavily on her mind for some time.
“I’m not going to give up, I’m going to come back stronger,” she told Centre Court.
“I’m not going to give up, I’m going to come back stronger,”
Jabeur missed several opportunities in the first set, converting only two out of seven break points and committing 17 unforced errors. These statistics would later haunt her as Vondroušová seized control of the match.
The two finalists exchanged breaks early in the match, leveling the score at 2-2 after engaging in intense baseline battles. The match saw a total of four breaks in the first seven games, as nerves crept into their play, heightening the tension.
Vondroušová’s tactics were immepacble
Vondroušová, the unpredictable left-handed underdog, showcased brilliant tactical variation. She constantly changed the pace and spin of the ball, ultimately claiming the first set by securing a crucial break in the ninth game and serving it out.
The shift in momentum was unexpected, but Vondroušová had been unsettling opponents throughout the past two weeks. When it becomes impossible to anticipate the next shot, seeds of doubt begin to play with the mind.
But tennis is a sport that can witness rapid shifts, and just when Jabeur appeared to be on edge, she managed to break back from a 40-0 deficit on Vondroušová’s serve, leveling the match. This sparked hope and brought relief to the nation, if only momentarily.
However, Jabeur still struggled to deliver the decisive blow against an opponent who refused to surrender. Importantly, Vondroušová broke back, capitalizing on her opponent’s nervousness and maintaining the unpredictable nature of the match.
The crowd passionately supported Jabeur, the immensely talented Tunisian who had expressed her dream of winning at the All England Club. Unfortunately, their enthusiastic backing wasn’t enough, and at 4-4, Vondroušová broke once again and served for the match. A backhand volley sealed her famous and well-deserved victory.
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