Markéta Vondroušová Makes History as First Unseeded Woman to Win Wimbledon
In an astonishing feat at Wimbledon, Czech tennis player Markéta Vondroušová defied all odds to become the first unseeded woman in the Open Era to win the prestigious tournament. Ranked 42nd in the world, Vondroušová triumphed over the tournament favorite, Ons Jabeur, the 6th seed, with a final score of 6-4, 6-4 on Centre Court.
Not since Serena Williams in 2018, when she was ranked 181st in the world, has a female player with such a low ranking reached the Wimbledon final. Vondroušová’s historic achievement also marks the first time an unseeded woman has reached the final since Billie Jean King accomplished the feat in 1963.
Last year, Vondroušová visited London as a tourist while recovering from left wrist surgery. Coming into Wimbledon, nobody expected her to make it to the championship match, not even Vondroušová herself. Her husband had remained in the Czech Republic, looking after their cat, Frankie, until the final.
Throughout the tournament, Vondroušová showcased her unpredictable playing style, which proved to be challenging for her opponents. Jabeur became the fifth-seeded player to fall to the 24-year-old Czech player, struggling to overcome her opponent’s unpredictability despite numerous opportunities to seize control of the match.
In her on-court interview, Vondroušová expressed her disbelief and joy, stating, “Tennis is crazy. Yeah, I really don’t know what is happening now. It’s an amazing feeling.” As history was made, Jabeur experienced the weight of the occasion, leading to her second consecutive Wimbledon final loss, which she described as the most painful of her career. This marked her third loss in a major final. However, Jabeur remains determined to bounce back stronger.
Jabeur had several opportunities, particularly in the first set, but she only converted two out of seven break points and made 17 unforced errors, statistics that would later haunt her. Vondroušová, an unpredictable left-handed player, varied her tactics brilliantly, changing the pace and spin of the ball. She secured the first set by breaking Jabeur’s serve in the ninth game.
In the second set, Vondroušová continued to dominate, breaking Jabeur’s serve in the opening game and winning six consecutive games. Although Jabeur managed to break back and level the match, Vondroušová’s resilience prevailed as she broke once again to take a commanding lead. Serving for the match at 4-4, Vondroušová capitalized on her opponent’s nervousness and secured a historic victory with a backhand volley.
Despite the crowd’s support for Jabeur, the talented Tunisian player who had expressed her dream of winning at the All England Club, their cheers were not enough. Vondroušová’s incredible performance and unpredictable style left a lasting impact, securing her a well-deserved and unforgettable win.
