TNT Sports
Marketa Vondrousova says 'tennis is crazy' after beating Ons Jabeur to land Wimbledon title
By
Published 15/07/2023 at 18:14 GMT+1
After upsetting the odds to win Wimbledon, Marketa Vondrousova reflected on her past 12 months, from wrist surgeries and uncertainty over her future at the pinnacle of the women's game, to becoming a Grand Slam champion. The 24-year-old sealed a 6-4 6-4 victory over Ons Jabeur to land her maiden major and become the first unseeded female winner in the tournament's history.
Wimbledon : Mats on Caroline Wozniacki returning to tennis
Video credit: TNT Sports
Marketa Vondrousova described tennis as "crazy" as the new Wimbledon champion reflected on her recovery from injury to take the SW19 title.
In landing her maiden Grand Slam title, the Czech became the first unseeded female player to triumph at the All England Club as she completed a comfortable 6-4 6-4 victory over an emotional and out-of-sorts Ons Jabeur.
"I don't really know what is happening now, it is an amazing feeling," Vondrousova said on Centre Court, before paying tribute to her opponent.
"Ons, congratulations, you are such an inspiration for all of us and I hope you are going to win one day. You are an amazing person and congrats guys, you are doing an amazing job.
"After everything I've been through, I had a cast on last year this time so this is amazing that I can stand here and hold this [trophy]. Tennis is crazy."
It is indeed, as Vondrousova, the World No. 42, battled through five seeded opponents to achieve her dream.
She recovered from a slow start in the final to assert her dominance on the first set before the second followed a similar pattern of punches and counter-punches until the 24-year-old landed the final blow, serving out for the match in style.
All this after wondering whether she would ever be able to compete at this level again given a debilitating series of wrist injuries.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2023/07/15/3744634-76182608-2560-1440.jpg)
Marketa Vondrousova
Image credit: Getty Images
Asked how she was able to reach such heights after the setbacks she has suffered, she added: "I don't really know. The comebacks aren't easy, you never know what to expect and after the second one I was playing the small tournaments and was hoping I could come back at this level and now this is happening.
"I want to thank my box, all of you guys are amazing, my little sister is crying up there."
Her husband even made it to London for the final after finding an emergency cat-sitter to relieve him of his duties.
"It's amazing, tomorrow is our first anniversary of our wedding. I've just enjoyed these two weeks so much. It was exhausting but I'm so grateful and proud of myself."
And as for how she will celebrate her biggest win, it'll be in typical British fashion.
"I think I'm going to have some beer maybe because it was a really exhausting two weeks and I just tried to get myself together for the few last days and I was so nervous before the game. Thank you guys for the support and for coming here."
- - -
Stream the men's singles final live on July 16 on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com.
Advertisement
Advertisement