“It’s amazing I can stand here!” Unseeded Vondrousova wins Wimbledon to crown injury comeback

Marketa Vondrousova is the first unseeded women’s Wimbledon champion, beating Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4.

Vondrousova has now won all three of the meetings between the two this year, although the two others were both on hard court.

And she is the third Czech woman to win the title after Jana Novotna in 1998 and Petra Kvitova in 2011 and 2014.

“I don’t really know what’s happening now, it’s an amazing feeling,” said Vondrousova. “I had a cast this time last year [after wrist surgery]. It’s amazing I can stand here. Tennis is crazy!”

“Comebacks aren’t easy. You never know what to expect…I was hoping to come back at this level and now this is happening!”

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As for her intended celebrations – which will also be marking her first wedding anniversary with husband Stepan, who flew in from Prague for the final – Vondrousova was clear: “I think I’m going to have some beer. It was an exhausting two weeks.”

She now – finally – has an even record on grass. She began the season this year with two wins and 10 defeats across her career on the surface – now she is on 11-11.

Jabeur: I’m going to come back stronger – and win

She will, of course, have deep sympathy for Jabeur. Vondrousova won only four games in her other Grand Slam final, going down 6-1, 6-3 to Ash Barty at Roland-Garros in 2019.

The Tunisian has now lost three Grand Slam finals, taking only one set across the trio of matches – in last year’s Wimbledon final against Elena Rybakina.

POV: you just become a Wimbledon champion 🏆#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/kf484DhHUt

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2023

Jabeur won only one point in the last four games of the first set, in which she made 15 unforced errors compared to Vondrousova’s nine – but she had had game point or break point in each of the first six games and failed to capitalise.

“I’m going to look ugly in the photos!” joked a crying Jabeur afterwards. “I think this is the most painful loss of my career.

“It’s going to be a tough day today for me, but I’m not going to give up, I’m going to come back stronger.”

She concluded: “I promise I will come back one day and win this tournament.”

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“I think if it’s meant to be, I’ll get there one day. If it’s not, then I’ll go have a daughter and make her win Wimbledon” – Jabeur on her Grand Slam chase

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