Champion Vondrousova: “I never even thought about Wimbledon – the most impossible Grand Slam for me to win”

After winning Wimbledon, Marketa Vondrousova spoke about some of the fears she had after undergoing wrist surgery

Marketa Vondrousova (Kirsty Wigglesworth/SIPA)

July 15, 2023

This time last year, Marketa Vondrousova had a cast on her wrist after a second surgery. She had gone to Wimbledon as a tourist to cheer on her doubles partner Miriam Kolodziejova, and she was about to marry fiance Stepan Simek.

On Saturday, Simek and Kolodziejova watched Vondrousova become a Wimbledon champion as she beat Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4 – and she spoke afterwards about why she had moments of wondering if it would even be possible for her to return to the top of the game, let alone win a Grand Slam on what has historically been her weakest surface (she had a 2-10 record at the start of the year).

Marketa Vondrousova hugs her sister, her friends and her husband after winning Wimbledon 2023 (Chryslene Caillaud/Panoramic)

“When I was coming back, I didn’t know what’s going to happen, if I can play at that level again,” she said. “Yeah, I mean, this seems impossible. Even, like, I don’t know, on grass I didn’t play well before. I think it was the most impossible Grand Slam for me to win, so I didn’t even think of it. When we came, I was just like, ‘Try to win couple of matches.’ Now this happened, it’s crazy.”

Vondrousova: You have to enjoy every moment

Vondrousova had won her only other title in her second career WTA tournament, in Biel/Bienne in 2017, but she did reach the 2019 Roland-Garros final, losing in quick-sharp fashion to Ash Barty, 6-1, 6-3. Now 24, she reflected on what she remembered of that day, and what she learnt from it.

“So I was 19 the first final. I just remember it was such a stress. I just wanted to do well. It was a big thing in Czech. Everybody was talking about it.

“I think she just crushed me. It was very fast match and I didn’t even, like, enjoyed it. I was very sad after. I just told myself, ‘If this happens again, you have to enjoy every moment. Even though if I lose, I just have to enjoy.’

“I think even if I would have lose today, I think I was just, ‘Enjoy this moment.’ It’s such a big achievement. I just really enjoy this match today.”