Unseeded Czech Marketa Vondrousova stunned Ons Jabeur 6-4 6-4 to win the Wimbledon women’s singles final on Saturday.
There has been a string of surprise Grand Slam winners in a transformative era for the women’s game but Wimbledon has been the exception so far, with Vondrousova taking advantage of a nervous performance from the Tunisian to claim a stunning victory.
Vondrousova climbed the stands Pat Cash-style to hug her team in the players’ box, while Jabeur sat listlessly in his chair.
He said: “I don’t know what happened today. Ons, congratulations, you are an inspiration to us all, I hope you win one day.
“After everything I’ve been through – I had a cast this time last year – and now I can’t believe I’m holding this trophy.”
Vondrousova’s husband Stepan, who has been at home taking care of their pet cat for the past two weeks, made it for the final and double celebration.
“It’s amazing, tomorrow is our first wedding anniversary,” he added.
Vondrousova has a penchant for tattoos, but asked if she would get another one to mark her success, she said: “I made a bet with my coach that if I win a Grand Slam he will get one too. go tomorrow [Sunday].
“I thought I’d drink a beer. I’ve been so tired for a few weeks.”
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In a topsy-turvy opening set Jabeur, the sixth seed, led with a break of serve at 4-2 but was quickly broken at love by the Czech world No 42.
A bad miss from the Tunisian gave Vondrousova two more break points and another unforced error put the underdog up 5-4.
Vondrousova was comfortably serving at love, committing just six unforced errors in a 40-minute opening set.
Jabeur’s collapse continued at the start of the second set, giving Vondrousova the initiative by dropping serve in the first game.
She fought back by winning three straight games but, as she had done in the first set, Vondrousova proved too strong in the end.
She produced a nervous display under the Center Court roof, however, and Vondrousova, who had wrist surgery last year and was out of the tournament, kept her cool to claim the title to become the first unseeded girl who won the title.
The Czech had her own supporters, including husband Stepan Simek, who went beyond the responsibility of looking after their cat Frankie to fly to London for the final.
This is not the 24-year-old’s first time on that stage having made it as a 19-year-old at the French Open in 2019 before losing in the final to Ashleigh Barty.
Injuries prevented him from building that, and he went to London as a tourist last summer during Wimbledon with his wrist in a cast after two operations.
Just eight months later, he was ranked outside the top 100 and won a title in less glamorous surroundings at The Shrewsbury Club in Shropshire.
Vondrousova added her name to the list of Czech Grand Slam champions that includes Jan Novotn, Petr Kvitova, Barbora Krejcikova, and Marketa Vondrousova.
Jabeur is aiming to become the first Arab player to win a Grand Slam title and the first African woman to win one of the four majors.
The Tunisian, who was also a losing finalist last year, cried after receiving his runners-up trophy from the Princess of Wales.
“It was very difficult. It was the most painful loss of my career,” he said.
“Congratulations to Marketa and his team. You are an amazing player, I know you have been injured a lot and I am very happy for you.
“It’s going to be a tough day for me today [Saturday] but I will not give up. I will come back stronger.”
Jabeur thanked the crowd for their support and then added: “I promise I will come back one day and win this tournament.”
