A left-handed Czech and a champ, one few saw coming

Vondrousova leaves Tunisia's Jabeur a tearful Wimbledon runner-up for the second year in a row

- Aditya Chaturvedi

MUMBAI: In 2022, for the third time in her young career, Marketa Vondrousova missed six months of the tour due to injury. Heading into Wimbledon this year, she was ranked 42 in the world, and had just one win to her name in four appearances in the tournament. Yet, on Saturday, she completed a most remarkable fortnight of tennis to lift the famous Venus Rosewater Dish.

Up against sixth seed Ons Jabeur in the final, playing in one of the most famous sporting arenas in the world, the 24-year-old showed incredible skill and temperament. Charging to a 6-4, 6-4 victory, she claimed her first Grand Slam title, becoming the first-ever unseeded player to be crowned the women's singles champion at Wimbledon.

Over the past few years in women's singles, seeing first-time major champions has become common. In the past three years alone, we've had Sofia Kenin, Barbora Krejcikova, Emma Raducanu, Elena Rybakina and Aryna Sabalenka win their first Grand Slam titles.

Now, there's a new name on that list with Vondrousova stealing the spotlight. Along with Martina Navratilova, Jana Novotna and Petra Kvitova, she joined another illustrious list of Wimbledon women's singles champions from Czech Republic.

"There must be something about Czech left-handers and that whippy forehand," Martina Navratilova had gushed in approval from the commentators' box on Thursday as Vondrousova was dismantling fan favourite Elina Svitolina in the semi-finals, sending forehand winners streaking across the forecourt repeatedly. Still, the odds were stacked against her.