Vondrousova earned the ultimate prize — and there were nine other women who also had an impressive fortnight. We take a look.
LONDON — Marketa Vondrousova has always loved Wimbledon. So much so that she even attended the tournament as a fan in 2022 when a wrist injury sidelined her from competition.
It just, in her mind anyway, had never loved her back.
During her four previous times competing at the All England Club, she had never advanced past the second round. And even that was just once. In fact, Vondrousova had never played well on grass anywhere, recording just a 2-10 record on the surface before this season. She had such low expectations for herself at what she considers the most famous of tennis tournaments that she had her husband stay at their home in Prague to watch their cat instead of attending the event in person to cheer her on.
But on Saturday, Vondrousova’s love for Wimbledon was no longer unrequited. Already the first unseeded woman in the Open era to advance to the final at the All England Club, the 24-year-old made even more history by winning the title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Ons Jabeur, as the Princess of Wales, Billie Jean King, Martina Navratilova, Andrew Garfield, Lin-Manuel Miranda and even her husband looked on at Centre Court.
“I don’t know what is happening,” Vondrousova said moments later. “After everything I’ve been through, I had a cast last year at this time, so [it’s] amazing that I can stand here and hold this [trophy]. Tennis is crazy.”
Having entered Wimbledon ranked No. 42, Vondrousova now leaves as the world No. 10 and a champion at a place she never expected. Clearly still surprised at what had just transpired, she wasn’t entirely sure how she would celebrate, but did say she would be taking her coach to get a tattoo on Sunday to commemorate the occasion — he promised her he would if she won a major title — and maybe with a triumphant beverage.
“I think I’m going to have some beer,” she said to the delight of the crowd. “It’s been an exhausting few weeks.”
While Vondrousova was the only one lifting the Venus Rosewater Dish on Saturday, she was far from the only woman who had a successful Wimbledon. Here are the other winners from the fortnight.
She didn’t earn the title, but she had three unbelievable fight-from-behind victories over three Grand Slam champions throughout the fortnight, and she now has played in two consecutive Wimbledon finals. Jabeur was the overwhelming fan favorite in the final, and those in attendance showered her in cheers during the match and even well after it was over.
The 29-year-old, who has now lost in all three of the Grand Slam finals she has played, fought back tears as she told the crowd it was the most painful loss of her career. But she still provided a moment of her trademark fighting spirit before leaving the court: “I promise I’ll come back one day and win this tournament.”
The 28-year-old returned from maternity leave in April and was a wild card (literally and figuratively) at the tournament. She made a surprise run to the quarterfinals at the French Open last month, in the first Grand Slam of her comeback, and took it a step further at the All England Club. Svitolina defeated four major champions en route to the semifinals.
“I think she’s a more complete player now,” Caroline Wozniacki, who will be making her competitive return next month after having two children, said. “What I’m most impressed with is her mentality, the way she’s playing freely on the court. I think it’s great, it’s awesome to see she took a break and is able to play at this level, and it just seems she is enjoying the sport a lot more and is more aware of herself and the game.”
Svitolina has been outspoken about the war in her home country of Ukraine, and she said she was playing for much more than herself.
