Wimbledon women’s final 2023: Marketa Vondrousova def Ons Jabeur in historic triumph

History was created in the women’s Wimbledon final, with Marketa Vondrousova becoming the first ever unseeded woman to win the iconic grand slam.

Vondrousova becomes the first ever unseeded woman to win Wimbledon. Picture: Getty

Marketa Vondrousova said her husband’s unexpected show of emotion after Saturday’s shock Wimbledon final victory against Ons Jabeur was the perfect end to her “impossible” triumph.

Vondrousova became the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon as she stunned the Tunisian world number six on Centre Court.

The 24-year-old held her nerve in a tense 6-4 6-4 win, securing her first major title four years after losing her only previous Grand Slam final at the French Open.

So unexpected was her Wimbledon run that the world No.42 told her husband Stepan Simek to stay at home in Prague to look after their cat Frankie, until a pet sitter was found to allow him to travel to London for the final.

Marketa Vondrousova falls to the floor as she celebrates winning match point. Picture: Getty

Twelve months after their wedding, Simek cried tears of joy when he saw Vondrousova after the match.

“I think when I came to the box, he cried. I saw him after and he cried a lot,” Vondrousova said.

“It’s amazing, tomorrow is our first wedding anniversary.

“That’s the first emotion I saw from him over eight years. I think he cried on the wedding day also, but that was it!”

With the family cat clearly a major figure in the Vondrousova household, the champion said her pet would get a reward after missing out on the party at the All England Club.

“I’m going to buy her some good fish. She’s with the cat sitter now. My mom is coming tomorrow to watch her,” she said.

“She has to wait for us. She doesn’t really care what’s happening.”

The outpouring of emotion from Vondrousova’s family was triggered by her unlikely journey to Wimbledon glory.

She had endured two serious wrist injuries that stalled her promising career since losing the 2019 French Open final.

Vondrousova becomes the first ever unseeded woman to win Wimbledon. Picture: Getty

Hampered by her injuries, Vondrousova was reduced to watching her best friend Miriam Kolodziejova attempt to qualify for the Wimbledon main draw last year.

“I had a cast last year at that time. I was a tourist here. When I was coming back, I didn’t know if I can play at that level again. This seems impossible,” she said.

Given her previous poor form on grass, Vondrousova had no expectations of a long run in this year’s tournament.

“I didn’t play well before on grass. It’s unbelievable. Nobody would have told you that I even had a chance to win,” she said.

“I was unseeded. It’s such a crazy journey. I can’t believe it.”

With the Centre Court roof closed due to high winds in London, Vondrousova was able to take advantage of the conditions better than Jabeur.

“I was really happy they closed the roof because it’s very different than in the windy weather. We practice in Prague in winter indoors. I always play good indoors,” she said.

Tunisia's Ons Jabeur was shattered after again losing the Wimbledon final. Picture: AFP

Learning from the experience of her French Open final thrashing by Ash Barty, Vondrousova battled to keep her composure as the pressure mounted.

“I couldn’t breathe. I was thinking to myself, ‘Just be over’. I was like crazy nervous,” she said.

“I just tried to stay calm and keep it together. It was such a relief when I put the match point in.” With her place in Wimbledon history assured, the tattooed Vondrousova will turn her attention to some celebratory body art alongside her coach Jan Mertl.

“I’ll choose for him. Maybe we’ll get the same one. We talked before the tournament and he said, ‘Yeah, so maybe if you win a Grand Slam, then I’ll do it’,” she said.

“I’m just going to made him do it. I’ll show you guys on Instagram after.”

JABEUR LAMENTS ‘MOST PAINFUL LOSS’

Tearful Wimbledon runner-up Ons Jabeur described her third defeat in a Grand Slam final as the “most painful” of her career as she vowed to learn from the tennis greats who were also jinxed at the majors.

World number six Jabeur was beaten 6-4, 6-4 by unseeded Czech Marketa Vondrousova on Saturday, one year after she lost the Wimbledon final to Elena Rybakina.

More pain followed at the US Open later in the year where she was runner-up again, this time to Iga Swiatek.

The 28-year-old is only the eighth woman to lose her first three Grand Slam finals.

Ons Jabeur described the Wimbledon defeat as ‘her most painful loss’. Picture: Getty

However, she can take comfort from knowing that the likes of Chris Evert, Kim Clijsters and Simona Halep also suffered the same fate before going on to capture Grand Slam titles.

“It will be tough to speak. I am going to look ugly in the photos so that’s not going to help,” said Jabeur after again being thwarted in her bid to become the first Arab or African woman to win a Grand Slam singles title.

“I think this is the most painful loss of my career.”

She added defiantly: “I promise I will come back one day and win this tournament.”

Former world number one Clijsters lost the 2001 and 2003 French Open finals, the US Open title match in 2003 and the Australian Open final in 2004.

But the Belgian eventually ended her career as a four-time major champion, winning her first in New York in 2005.

“I love Kim so much. She’s a great inspiration for me,” said Jabeur who was consoled by Clijsters behind the scenes at Centre Court.

“The fact that she takes the time to give me advice and to really hug me, always be there for me, I think it’s priceless.

“She was telling me all the time she lost four. That’s why I know the information, otherwise would have been tough. But, yeah, that’s the positive out of it. You cannot force things. It wasn’t meant to be.”

Originally published as Wimbledon women’s final 2023: Marketa Vondrousova def Ons Jabeur in historic triumph