Wimbledon 2023: Vondrousova becomes first unseeded champion

London, ENGLAND – With one of the craziest and most unexpected stories in Wimbledon's history, Team Yonex's Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) has become the first unseeded women's singles champion in the Open Era. 

 

Reaching the final had already been remarkable, with the World No. 42 the only unseeded finalist since tennis became professional in 1968. Until this summer, the left-handed Czech had only ever won one match at Wimbledon, and even when she arrived she still thought that playing on grass was "impossible". But the Yonex ambassador has gone on and won her first Grand Slam title after beating Tunisia's Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4, a result that no one had been predicting before the tournament began. 

 

This is the second year in a row that a Yonex athlete has lifted the Venus Rosewater Dish, and made some history at Wimbledon, as last summer Elena Rybakina (KAZ) became the first player from Kazakhstan to win a Grand Slam singles title. 

 

"I don't know what is happening - it is an amazing feeling," said Vondrousova, who defeated five seeded opponents in her seven matches. 

 

Astonishingly, this wasn't the first time that Vondrousova had reached a Grand Slam final while unseeded, as she also did so at Roland-Garros in 2019. As she defeated Jabeur, it was worth considering how this time last year her wrist was in a plaster cast after having an operation and she only came to London as a tourist and not to compete.

 

This was an occasion that showcased the variety in her game, but also her resilience and composure as she came from 2-4 down in the opening set and 1-3 back in the second set to win in straight sets. While this was only Vondrousova's second appearance on Centre Court - and the first had been just two days earlier in the semi-final - she was the one who dealt with the occasion best.

 

The deftest of volleys on the championship point showcased the true essence of her tennis. She continued to believe in her own potential, adhered to her unique tennis style, and ultimately persevered to reach the pinnacle of Wimbledon glory.