LONDON | Marketa Vondrousova on Saturday became the first player in modern tennis history to win the Wimbledon title without being one of the tournament’s top seeds, ahead of an Ons Jabeur who burst into tears when Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales , presented her for the second year in a row with the trophy for the loser on the most prestigious of grounds.
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The Czech, 42e won 6-4, 6-4 at the expense of the sixth-seeded Tunisian, who has now lost all three Grand Slam finals she has entered, having also lost at the US Open last year. last.
Ons Jabeur, in tears, the trophy of the finalist in hand, Saturday at Wimbledon.
Photo: AFP
Vondrousova, 24, was in her second final in a major tournament, after her presence in the final match at Roland Garros four years ago.
Slow career
This unexpected coronation of the Czech is in a way a balm on a career which promised to be promising, but which was until very recently slowed down by numerous injuries, including a wrist which caused her to miss six months. of activities last year.
The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, alongside All England Club chairman Ian Hewitt in the royal box during the Wimbledon women’s final on Saturday.
Photo: AFP
Even before the game started, it was very palpable, the nervousness of Jabeur, in the corridors leading to the central on which the roof had been closed.
And this tension was confirmed early in the first set, when the Tunisian started to multiply unforced errors.
Never really in control
Helped by her left paw, Vondrousova quickly took advantage of it. Although she didn’t have to force too much: like the dream that inhabited Jabeur, the net seemed too high for the former world number 2, who landed a good number of balls.
The sixth seed cracked for good at 4-4 in the first set, having previously led 4-2.
She then started the second run as badly as she finished the first. A brief burst of pride that allowed him to take the lead again, 3-1.
But the Tunisian was again broken twice, including in the ninth game, leaving Vondrousova the privilege of kissing the most coveted trophy.
“Tennis is crazy!” let escape on the ground the champion who, a year ago, had attended the fortnight as a spectator, she who was on the sidelines.
Marketa Vondrusova.
Photo: AFP
“We’ll get there one day, I promise you,” said the finalist, her face still flushed with emotion, to her beloved Tunisia in her post-match speech.