Marketa Vondrousova does nothing like everyone else. Among the elements now distinguishing her from her contemporaries, there is a coronation at Wimbledon, the most prestigious tournament in tennis.
It was thanks to a two-handed volley from the backhand that the great Czech with an extraordinary forehand was able to end a fortnight that she will remember for the rest of her life.
Vondrousova is not only the first left-hander to win a major title since 2018, she is also the most tattooed champion in All England Club history.
“I made my coach promise to get a tattoo for the first time if I won a major tournament. […] I think we’ll go tomorrow, “she said in the center of the field while her coach seemed to regret somewhat having taken such a bet from his box.
Barely recovered from wrist surgery a year ago, the 42nd ranked racket in the world became the first non-seeded player to win the English tournament. And she did it by playing the role of neglected, moreover. Which she did throughout the tournament. Each time, however, she found a way to win. Like a champion, because that’s what she is now.
“I’m not sure how I did it,” she said nervously. No return to play is easy and you never know what to expect. »
With its unorthodox style, it would have been extremely daring to predict such a conclusion at the start of the third major of the season.
Although she reached the French Open final in 2019, Vondrousova has been flying under the radar ever since.
Before getting the upper hand over Jabeur, she had got rid of four seeds. However, there is nothing extraordinary in the game of the Czech. This is also why the victory of the Tunisian, sixth seed, seemed acquired even before the start of the meeting.
However, since tennis is a sport where every game is a new start, Vondrousova was more efficient, more incisive and more opportunistic.
Ten times the players broke their opponent. A huge number, so that neophytes can understand how the service was not an advantage for anyone in this match.
In this context, it is enough to break at the right time. And Vondrousova has done it six times on seven occasions. A performance far superior to that of its rival.
In both sets, the champion broke at 4-4 to then serve for the set.
Rather defensive from start to finish, Vondrousova quickly understood how to manhandle her opponent and like Marilou’s instructions when it comes time to prepare a good meal, it seemed so simple for the left-hander.
Basically, it was necessary to bounce back on Jabeur’s weakened and fearful serve, let her attack and make mistakes herself and hold on as long as possible in the back of the field.
So, in just 80 minutes, Vondrousova made history with the certainty of never leaving it.
Even if the champion deservedly won this meeting, no one would be wrong in categorizing this match as the defeat of Jabeur rather than the victory of Vondrousova.
After all, the match was within reach of the Tunisian.
The 28-year-old was coming off a fantastic streak during which she knocked down Bianca Andreescu, Petra Kvitova, defending champion Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka.
However, the end result was nightmarish. She was struggling to hold back tears when Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, presented her with her finalist trophy. She lifted the silver plate at arm’s length, trying to contain her sadness with the other.
“It’s the most painful loss of my career,” she said bluntly on center court, between short breaths and tears like a river on her cheeks.
The stars were however aligned for her, before seeing a meteorite named Marketa screw up her plans.
Finalist at Wimbledon and the United States Open last season, Jabeur was counting on this opportunity to join the group of great champions. However, at the end of this other fortnight, she remains possibly the best active player without a major title.
His shortcomings in service will have cost him the tournament. It had been a problem in her other matches as well, but she was able to compensate with the other moves in her arsenal. She finished the final with less than a 50% success rate in successful first serves and points won on first and second serves.
Against an ultra-defensive Vondrousova who is just as comfortable on cut balls and effects, she found the match. And the shoe size was too big.
The long-awaited coronation will have to wait. With the emergence of the youngest and the progression of talent, Jabeur could regret in a few years not having been able to buy this famous title on Saturday.
“That’s tennis. I promise you I’ll come back one day and win this tournament,” Jabeur promised the London crowd before stepping aside to make way for his ladies.
Tournaments are getting harder and harder to win and time flies like a serve from Sabalenka. Only time will tell if this disappointment will turn into an eternal haunting or a catapult to a place in history.
