Marketa Vondrousova describes her journey to glory at Wimbledon as ‘crazy’ and few can dispute that.
12 months ago she was sidelined from the sport due to a wrist injury after undergoing a second surgery. Her experience of the grasscourt major that year was going to the qualifying tournament in Roehampton as a spectator to watch her best friend in action. Also at that time, she was far from an accomplished player on the surface after recording just two Tour-level wins on the grass.
Fast forward to the present day and the Czech has become the 59th woman in history to claim a Grand Slam title. Vondrousova’s run to the Wimbledon final saw her beat four seeded players in a row and former world No.3 Elina Svitolina. Then in the final, she brushed aside Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in straight sets.
“When I was coming back (from injury) I didn’t know what was going to happen or if I could play at that level again,” said Vondrousova, who was runner-up at the 2019 French Open.
“On the grass I have not played well before. I thought it was the most impossible Grand Slam for me to win, so I didn’t even think of it.’
“Then when we (her team) came, I was just like, trying to win a couple of matches. Now this has happened, it’s crazy.”
The 24-year-old has previously shown glimmers of her talent on the Tour but her progression has been hindered by multiple injury setbacks which date back to 2016 which was the year she won her first WTA match.
So what was the secret to her breakthrough at The All England Club? A surface on which she has had little confidence playing on until now.
“I think I was just open-minded. I didn’t have much stress until today (against Jabeur),’ she explained.
“You just have to believe in yourself. I was just trying not to think much about the title and everything.’
“You just have to stay focused in your head and have a small circle around you, doing the same things as you always do.”
Vondrousova can now look forward to a surge of interest from the media, as well as endorsement opportunities. Today she lifted the Wimbledon trophy wearing a plain white kit after being ditched by her former sponsor Nike last year whilst she was injured. It is safe to say that she will have a new replacement very soon following her Wimbledon triumph.
“We’ll see what’s going to happen. I’m just going to talk with my agents and we’ll see what’s going to happen.” She said.
Vondrousova has won £2.35M in prize money at Wimbledon this year which is a £350,000 increase compared to what the winner took home in 2022.
