Wondrous Vondrousova: Czech underdog becomes first unseeded women’s singles champion at Wimbledon

Prior to the start of Wimbledon last week, in 20 previous Grand Slam main draw entries, Marketa Vondrousova had gotten past the fourth round only once – during her dream run to the 2019 French Open final.Her promising career had been sidelined injuries, including three wr surgeries. She had wandered out of the top 50 of the world rankings, last winning a tour-level title in 2017.On Sunday, Vondrousova’s unlikely run to the Wimbledon final got its fairytale finish, as she swept past sixth seed Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4, becoming the first unseeded women’s singles champion at SW19 in the Open Era.

The Marketa Vondrousova #Wimbledon 2023 story told from above 🏆 pic.twitter.com/TGSjORnDsj
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2023
It’s a story that belies simple explanation, after a final that belied simple explanation. It kicked off at a blering pace, Tunisia’s Jabeur drawing first blood breaking her opponent’s serve. The points were frenzied but short. Spectacular winners splattered all over the court, but equally frustrating loose errors. Nerves on both sides were evident.
Vondrousova’s spinning groundstrokes didn’t have the same zip on grass as they did on clay – even after Sunday’s final, she has only notched her win-loss record to an even 11-11 on this surface. Jabeur’s crafty, flat game had more potential on grass, but the weight of the moment was weighing on her shoulders.

After losing last year’s final despite leading a set, and then falling short at the US Open a few months later, Jabeur was visibly tense in her third Major final, and Vondrousova stayed strong to take advantage.

Sharing the moment 👍 #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/DzQSuY847z
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2023
The Tunisian was so much more assured when returning serve, and during longer baseline exchanges when she could flatten out her massive backhand, but crumbled when serving herself. She only won four of her 10 service games, a miserable record that would never end up successful in any Major final, let alone at Wimbledon.
The two went about trading breaks in the first set until the Czech steadied the ship to take the first set, with Jabeur losing 16 of the last 18 points.
Vondrousova would later slip too, 6-4, 1-0, 40-0 up only to lose three games in a row. But Jabeur never looked like coming back in this one. Her serve escaped her, her unforced error count rising to 31, her body language looking defeated.

POV: you just become a Wimbledon champion 🏆#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/kf484DhHUt
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2023
Smelling blood, Vondrousova tightened the screws, adding pace to her return and approaching the net more often to break through Jabeur’s defence. She won the last three games to round out the unlikeliest of triumphs. Celebration? Beers and a fresh tattoo, she said.
“After everything I have been through – this time last year I was in a cast – it’s amazing I can stand here and hold this (title),” she said after the final. “Tennis is crazy. I think I’m going to have some beer, maybe. It was a really exhausting two weeks,” she said.
“I remember I made a bet with my coach that the day I win a Grand Slam, that he is going to get one (tattoo) also, so I think we’re going to go immediately, tomorrow only, and get it done.”

“We’re going to make it one day, I promise you”@Ons_Jabeur speaks after her #Wimbledon final defeat to Marketa Vondrousova pic.twitter.com/4OWGoBANUc
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 15, 2023
For Jabeur, no previous defeat would dishearten her as much, failing on a third attempt to become the first Arab, African, and Muslim woman to win a Grand Slam.
“This is the most painful loss of my career,” she said, sobbing as she spoke, on the court after the final. “It’s going to be a tough day for me but I won’t give up. I’ll come back and win a Grand Slam one day.” She joins Wendy Turnbull, Dinara Safina, Mary Joe Fernandez, and Helena Sukova (4) as the only players to reach three Major finals and win none.