Wimbledon women's final: Marketa Vondrousova becomes first unseeded champion to win the tournament

London: Marketa Vondrousova created history at Wimbledon today when she became the first unseeded woman to win the prestigious tournament in the Open era.

The Czech player secured a stunning 6-4, 6-4 victory over Tunisia's Ons Jabeur in the final on Saturday. Going into the match, Vondrousova was considered the underdog against the sixth-ranked Jabeur, but she defied expectations and claimed her first Grand Slam title.

Expressing her disbelief and joy, Vondrousova said, "After everything I've been through - I had a cast on this time last year - and now I can't believe I'm holding this trophy." The 24-year-old had faced a wrist injury in 2022, which had kept her out of action for several months. Her remarkable journey to the Wimbledon title makes her only the ninth unseeded champion in a Grand Slam tournament.

Vondrousova's triumph also adds her name to the list of Czech women who have won Wimbledon, alongside Jana Novotna and Petra Kvitova.

Her victory also signifies a remarkable comeback after a series of injuries interrupted her promising career. Last year, she was unable to compete at Wimbledon due to her wrist surgery and instead supported her friend's qualification attempts. Vondrousova's run to the final was unexpected, as she was the second-lowest ranked player to reach that stage in the tournament's history, with only Serena Williams in 2018 having a lower ranking.

The defeat proved to be a heartbreaking moment for Jabeur, who had reached the Wimbledon final last year but lost to Elena Rybakina. Despite the disappointment, Jabeur remained determined, stating, "It's the most painful loss of my career. but we're going to make it one day, I promise you I'm not going to give up." Jabeur had hoped to become the first African and Arab woman to win a Grand Slam singles title, but her quest for victory fell short once again.

In the final, Vondrousova showcased her dominant form, breaking Jabeur's serve multiple times. The Tunisian player struggled to match her opponent's level, committing a high number of unforced errors. Vondrousova took control early on, breaking Jabeur's serve in the opening game of the second set. Despite a brief resurgence from Jabeur, Vondrousova maintained her composure and sealed her unexpected triumph with a perfect volley, leading to scenes of jubilation as she fell to the ground in celebration.