Unseeded Czech Marketa Vondrousova stunned Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-4 to win the Wimbledon women's singles final on Saturday.
There
have been a string of surprise Grand Slam winners in a period of flux for the
women's game but Wimbledon had been the exception until now, with Vondrousova
taking advantage of a nervous performance from the Tunisian to claim a stunning
victory.
Vondrousova
climbed up the stands Pat Cash-style to hug her team in the players' box, while
Jabeur sat disconsolately in her chair.
She
said: "I don't know what's happening now. Ons, congratulations, you're
such an inspiration for all of us, I hope you are going to win one day.
"After
everything I've been through - I had a cast on this time last year - and now I
can't believe I'm holding this trophy."
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Martina Navratilova, Tim Henman, Johanna Konta and Laura Robson
Vondrousova's
husband Stepan, who has been at home looking after their pet cat for the last
two weeks, managed to make it for the final and a double celebration.
"It's
amazing, tomorrow is our first wedding anniversary," she added.
Vondrousova
has a penchant for tattoos, but asked if she would be getting another to mark
her achievement, she said: "I made a bet with my coach that if I won a
Grand Slam he's going to get one also. I think we'll go tomorrow [Sunday].
"I
think I'm going to have some beer. It's been an exhausting few weeks."
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Katherine Grainger examines whether there is a gender bias in kits and
equipment used within women's sport
In a
topsy-turvy opening set Jabeur, the sixth seed, led by a break of serve at 4-2
but was immediately broken to love by the Czech world No 42.
A bad
miss from the Tunisian gave Vondrousova two more break points and another
unforced error put the underdog 5-4 ahead.
Vondrousova
comfortably served out to love, making just six unforced errors in a 40-minute
opening set.
Jabeur's
collapse continued at the start of the second set, handing Vondrousova the
initiative by dropping serve in the first game.
She
fought back by winning three successive games but, just as she had in the first
set, Vondrousova proved too strong towards the end.
She
produced a nervy display under the Centre Court roof, however, and Vondrousova,
who had wrist surgery last year and missed the tournament, stayed cool to claim
the title to become the first unseeded woman to win the title.
Champion
Vondrousova
Marketa
Vondrousova is the 59th women’s singles Grand Slam winner and the 24th in
Wimbledon.
She is the 16th different woman to win a major since 2017.
The
Czech had her own supporters, including husband Stepan Simek, who had passed
over the responsibility of looking after their cat Frankie to fly to London for
the final.
This
was not the 24-year-old's first time on such a stage having burst through as a
19-year-old at the French Open in 2019 before losing in the final to Ashleigh
Barty.
Injuries
had prevented her building on that, and she came to London as a tourist last summer
during Wimbledon with her wrist in a cast after two operations.
Incredible
achievement
Marketa
Vondrousova is the lowest ranked player (42) to win the women's singles title
in Wimbledon since the WTA Rankings were introduced.
Just
eight months ago, she was ranked outside the top 100 and winning a title in the
rather less glamorous surroundings of The Shrewsbury Club in Shropshire.
Vondrousova
adds her name to the storied list of Czech Grand Slam champions including Jana
Novotna, Petra Kvitova, Barbora Krejcikova, and Marketa Vondrousova.
Vondrousova
vs Jabeur: Tale of the Tape
Vondrousova Match Stats Jabeur
0 Aces 1
4 Double Faults 0
61% 1st serve win percentage 48%
46% 2nd serve win percentage 45%
6/7 Break points won 4/10
10/14 Net points won 12/17
10 Total winners 25
13 Unforced errors 31
68 Total points won 57
Jabeur
was bidding to become the first Arab player to win a Grand Slam title and the
first African woman to win one of the four majors.
The
Tunisian, last year's losing finalist as well, broke down in tears after
receiving her runners-up trophy from the Princess of Wales.
"This
is very tough. It's the most painful loss of my career," she said.
"Congratulations
to Marketa and her team. You are an amazing player, I know you had a lot of
injuries and I'm very happy for you.
"It's
going to be a tough day for me today [Saturday] but I'm not going to give up.
I'm going to come back stronger."
Jabeur
thanked the crowd for their support and then added: "I promise I'll come
back one day and win this tournament."
[Skysport]
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