How unseeded Marketa Vondrousova did the impossible and won Wimbledon
Czech star Marketa Vondrousova created history at Wimbledon over the weekend, becoming the first-ever unseeded woman to win at the All-England Club.
Vondrousova beat Tunisian star Ons Jabeur in the final, coming back in each set to win 6-4, 6-4 against last year's runner-up.
Last year at Wimbledon was a very different story for Vondrousova, missing the championships due to a wrist injury.
Wimbledon's new champion required surgery on her left wrist after repeated discomfort throughout tournaments.
Picture – Instagram @marketavondrousova
After being sidelined from April till October last year, missing three of the four Grand Slam tournaments, her ranking went down to 99 in the world.
She arrived at Wimbledon this year ranked 42nd in the world, not expecting to perform at her usual level due to the grass surface.
According to pbs.org, Vondrousova said: "On grass, I didn't play well before. I think it was the most impossible Grand Slam for me to win, so I didn't even think of it."
The Czech champion was 1-4 in her previous Wimbledon appearances but turned her fortunes into a 7-0 run, beating five seeded players.
Vondrousova has rose to fame throughout the tournament for her famous tattoos scattered on her arms and body.
After achieving her maiden Grand Slam victory, she explained there will be a new and even more special tattoo arriving.
According to skysports.com, Vondrousova said: "I made a bet with my coach that if I won a Grand Slam, he's going to get one also."
Despite being the first unseeded player to win at Wimbledon, her number 42 ranking is deceiving to most players, having played at the biggest stages before.
Before her wrist injury that had taken her trajectory off course, Vondrousova played in the French Open final in 2019, losing to Ashleigh Barty as a 19-year-old.
The Czech upset Naomi Osaka and Paula Badosa at the Olympics before losing to Belinda Bencic in three sets in the final, securing an Olympic Silver Medal.
As of the 17th of July 2023, Vondrousova is ranked tenth in the World Tennis Association rankings, her highest on tour.
Vondrousova achieved the mission impossible, but can she carry on her dream year with a win at the US Open in August?