Despite defying all odds and expectations, Marketa Vondrosova emerged from the first half of the draw to beat four seeded players, including a win over world number four Jessica Pegula. However, she was a heavy underdog heading into the final against 2022 runner-up Ons Jabir, who not only had Center Court behind her, beating four Grand Slam winners along the way, including defending champion Elina Rybakina. . But the Czech managed to stun the Tunisian in the final, handing her a second straight heartbreak and scripting history as the first unseeded female player to lift the Wimbledon trophy. However, Vondrusova praised the Wimbledon chief for giving her a key advantage in her win over Jabir. (Wimbledon 2023 Final Live Updates)
Jabeer came back from a set down in both matches before the final. She did it against Rybakina in the quarters and Zabalenka in the semis, but failed to replicate it against Vondrossova, as she lost 4-6, 4-6.
Before the start of the final, London witnessed strong winds and the Wimbledon boss took the surprising decision to close the roof even though it didn’t rain. Vondrosova later admitted that the decision worked in her favor in scripting a straight sets victory over Jabir.
She said: “I’m glad they closed the roof because it’s so different than the windy weather. The roof helps you serve. You have to focus on the game, not in the wind, even in the sun. . . I’m used to playing indoors. We train indoors in winter in Prague. I always play well indoors.”
The Tunisian, who was aiming to win the Arab and African Grand Slam for the third time, broke down in tears after the defeat. However, she admitted that the call to close the roof affected her game and could have seen a different result in the final.
Jabir said: “It probably helped her to play better today and hit more balls. If the roof had been open it would have been a different story.”
However, the tournament organizers later released a statement explaining why they decided to close the roof. It read: “We have been monitoring the weather forecast and in light of a yellow weather warning, we have decided to close the roof of Center Court and No. 1 Court.”
History of Vondrosova
The Czech not only became the first unseeded female player to capture the Venus Rosewater dish, but also became the lowest-ranked player (#42) to emerge as champion at SW19. Vondrousova is the fifth left-handed woman to win a Slam and the third from her country to win a grass-court major.
Vondrosova said: “It seems impossible. I’ve never played well on grass before and I think it’s the most impossible Grand Slam for me to win. When we came, I was like, ‘Try to win two matches’. Now this has happened, it’s crazy.”