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With Marketa Vondrousova set to take on Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon final on Saturday, it will be the ninth Grand Slam women’s singles final in the last 38 – a race that dates back to the start of 2014 – with a player from the Czech Republic participating.
The only country with more is the United States with 20, 12 of which include Serena Williams.
Seven different Czech players have played in finals over that period, and two have lifted the trophy – Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon 2014, and Barbora Krejkova at the 2021 French Open.
Marketa’s magic 🪄# Wimbledon | @tweet pic.twitter.com/V5eWZD2HfJ
– Wimbledon (@wimbledon) July 13, 2023
In the last 18 finals since 2019 alone, which includes Vondrousova’s match against Ash Barty at the 2019 French Open, four players from the central European country have participated.
At the moment, nine players from the Czech Republic occupy the top 100 of the WTA rankings. Only the United States has more (15). The population of the Czech Republic (just over 10 million) is less than half that of the US state of Florida (22 million) where most of the best US tennis players train and reside.
Then the Czech Republic’s massive achievements in women’s tennis in modern times speaks to the country’s impressive tennis tradition and heritage. But it is difficult to quantify the country’s success in sports for one specific reason.
Perhaps the reason nearly all of the country’s best tennis players are women is because their parents were fascinated and inspired by the rise of Martina Navratilova, the Prague-born tennis legend who remains one of the most iconic figures in the sport.
The 2023 women’s singles final has been decided.# Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Gu3lgPUtn1
– Wimbledon (@wimbledon) July 13, 2023
Perhaps it has something to do with the years since Czechoslovakia broke up, and private television stations broadcast the successes of the likes of 14-time Grand Slam doubles champions Helena Sukova and Jana Novotná, whose images famously fell apart after losing the 1993 Wimbledon final. Finalist at SW19 in 1998, the third time he was asked.
Perhaps, according to the explanation of multi-generational players who have almost worked out after incessant questions, it is only due to the good feelings – family support systems, training, sports culture.
“You go to clubs and you hang out with whoever’s there. You play with whoever’s there, adults, kids, someone at your level, someone better. If all else fails, you go and hit a wall,” the WTA quoted Navratilova in an interview. 2018. “There is great training and a great support system.”
Even if the Czech tennis success story belies a simple explanation, Vondrousova will recognize that, just like Karolina Muchova at the French Open last month, she is playing with the weight of history on her shoulders.
“I can not believe that”
Marketa Vondrousova can’t stop smiling after getting to her first # Wimbledon last pic.twitter.com/DlkhvmsXzc
– Wimbledon (@wimbledon) July 13, 2023
Craftsmanship and elegance
In her native Tunisia, Anas Jaber is known as the Minister of Happiness. It’s easy to see why watching her compete, especially on the grass courts at Wimbledon.
The 5’6 Jaber does not flaunt the obvious strengths that many of tennis’s modern elite clearly do. There is no incomparable power coming out of her racket, no maneuverable foot-speed, no big forehand or thunderous serve. Instead, she relies solely on her skillful playing style.
ONS-TOPPABLE@employee Produces stunning comeback against No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka to reach women’s final, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3 🙌# Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/cFSnkIn55Y
– Wimbledon (@wimbledon) July 13, 2023
Her signature is the drop shot, which she can use to devastating effect due to her ability to carve slices from any position on the court, stabbing the ball to keep it bouncing on the turf. She’s got a very reliable and versatile serve, and she can do a lot with her return by adjusting it to the situation.
She’s reached her third final in the last five Grand Slams, including losing to Elena Rybakina here last year. Since 2021, Jabeur has won a leading 28 matches on grass.
underdog
Vondrousova doesn’t hold that pedigree on this surface — despite reaching the final this year, she has a losing overall record on grass. But she beat Jaber in both of their previous meetings this year.
For starters, Vondrousova’s match-up could be capped off with a forehand winner at the halfway point by defeating Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-3 in the semi-finals. While serving, Svitolina sent a huge inside forehand into the net to finish off the point, only for Vondrousova, on the run, to hit Roger Federer’s squash winning cross. Pure instinct, the mercurial playing style can’t be taught.
But her left-footed groundstroke is a bigger threat on slower surfaces — her last two finals were at the French Open and the 2019 Tokyo Olympics, both the only times she’s gone past the fourth round of a major, making her a bit of a wildcard in this final.
If she wants to take on a hungry, experienced turf-loving Jabber, she’ll need to thrive on her underdog status and find a variety of rolls and angles in her repertoire.
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