Marketa Vondrousova, ranked 42nd in the world, wins Wimbledon. WIMBLEDON, England — Marketa Vondrousova became the lowest-ranked and first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon, defeating 2022 runner-up Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4 on Saturday.
Czech Republic native and 42nd-ranked left-hander Vondrousova is 24 years old. The last unseeded woman to even make it to the All England Club final was 1963 runner-up Billie Jean King, who was seated in the front row of the Royal Box on Saturday with Kate, Princess of Wales. She was the first such woman to even make it there.
Marketa Vondrousova, ranked 42nd in the world, wins Wimbledon
The retractable roof above the main stadium was closed, protecting everyone from the breeze outside, which may have helped Vondrousova’s fluid left-handed strokes frequently hit their target. Her photos didn’t convey the same level of intensity that Jabeur’s did.
This is her first Grand Slam title. She lost in the final of the 2019 French Open as a teenager.
Jabeur’s record in big finals fell to 0-3 now. The 28-year-old Tunisian is the only Arab and the only woman from North Africa to advance that far in singles at a Grand Slam competition.
But at the All England Club and the U.S. Open, she suffered defeats to Elena Rybakina and No. 1 Iga Swiatek, respectively.
Two weeks ago, Vondrousova’s ascent to the trophy was difficult to imagine.
Prior to going 7-0 this past week, she had a 1-4 record at Wimbledon, reaching the second round just once on the grass courts. When Wimbledon came around last year, Vondrousova was unable to play; instead, she came to support a friend while sporting a cast on her surgically repaired left wrist.
Vondrousova was sidelined from April to October because of that injury and finished 2022 ranked just 99th.
They traded early breaks of serve and it was 2-all after 23 minutes. They again traded breaks, each one at love, and it was 4-all after 34 minutes.
But Jabeur’s mistakes kept coming — she would finish with 27 unforced errors — and Vondrousova moved ahead by claiming 16 of its last 18 points in the first set.
Jabeur went to the locker room during the interval between sets. She promptly made another mistake when she came back out, drawing loud cheers from the audience in support. Vondrousova received a break point after yet another error, which Jabeur furthered by firing another shot into the goal. After 45 minutes of play, Vondrousova had a two-set lead.
Jabeur then started to do a turn around at that point. She won three straight games to extend her lead to 3-1, possibly emulating the comebacks she pulled off when she dropped the first set before defeating Rybakina, No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, and 2019 U.S. Open champion Bianca Andreescu.
It didn’t last.
Vondrousova overcame that blip and, with her husband on hand for the first time during the tournament, she surged to the finish.
When she ended the match with a jumping volley, she tumbled to the grass, the happiest she’s ever been on the surface.
Jabeur made a comeback of sorts, winning three consecutive games to take a 3-1 lead in the second set. This was reminiscent of her previous comebacks in the tournament, where she had overcome deficits to defeat formidable opponents. The crowd, eager to witness a memorable turnaround, rallied behind Jabeur, who is affectionately known as the Minister of Happiness for her positive demeanor on and off the court.
However, Vondrousova remained unfazed by Jabeur’s resurgence. With her husband present for the first time during the tournament, she regained control and finished the match strongly. The moment of victory came when Vondrousova executed a jumping volley, and she celebrated by tumbling onto the grass, expressing her joy and elation.
This remarkable win at Wimbledon cements Vondrousova’s status as a rising star in women’s tennis. Her journey to the trophy was challenging, but she proved her skills and determination throughout the tournament. Vondrousova’s victory will undoubtedly inspire young players and pave the way for future unseeded contenders in the world of women’s tennis.