Nothing can match the happiness when someone wins Tennis’s most prestigious grand slam before the eve of her anniversary. Remember the name!!!! Marketa Vondrousova!!
Marketa Vondrousova is a Czech professional tennis player who made history by winning the Wimbledon singles title in 2023 as an unseeded player. She defeated Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in a thrilling three-set final to claim her maiden Grand Slam trophy at the age of 24. Vondrousova is also a former French Open finalist and an Olympic silver medalist. She has a career-high ranking of world No. 14 by the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and is known for her versatile game, excellent drop shots, and strong returns.
In this post, we will discuss her early life and career, breakthrough, injuries, personal life, and success.
Early Life and Career
In the Czech Republic’s Karlovy Vary Region, in the tiny town of Sokolov, Vondrousova was born on June 28, 1999. David, her father, who had previously played tennis for fun, taught her the game when she was four years old. Her mother Jindika ran for SK Slavia Prague in the elite Extraliga volleyball league. When Vondrouová was three years old, her parents divorced, but they both continued to be involved in her life and encouraged her tennis development.
A life of sport
When Marketa Vondrousova was younger, she attempted a number of sports and was excellent at them all, including floorball, table tennis, football, skiing, and all of them. She started concentrating on tennis early, competing in a national mini-tennis competition at Prague’s vanity island in 2006. She earned a spot in the third-place match and a trip to Umag, Croatia for a global competition. Despite playing largely against competitors who were nine years old, she won the consolation bracket when she was only eight years old.
Early Achievements
She kept honing her abilities and began competing on the ITF Junior Circuit in 2013. In 2015, she rose to the top of the junior rankings. Together with her countrywoman Miriam Kolodziejova, who is now her closest friend on tour, she won two Grand Slam doubles titles at the Australian Open and the US Open. At both competitions, she advanced to the singles semifinals.
Debut
In 2015, Marketa Vondrousova participated in the Prague Open as a wildcard and made her WTA Tour debut. She became the sixth player to win a WTA championship in the twenty-first century in 2017 at the Ladies Open Biel Bienne in Switzerland, where she also earned her maiden WTA title. Additionally, the same year, she defeated Simona Halep, the No. 2 player in the world, en route to the quarterfinals of the US Open.
Biography Table
| Name | Marketa Vondrousova |
| Birthdate | 28 June 1999 |
| Birthplace | Sokolov, Czech Republic |
| Residence | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) |
| Plays | Left-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Turned pro | 2015 |
| Career titles | 2 singles |
| Career-high ranking | No. 14 (1 July 2019) |
| Grand Slam titles | Wimbledon (2023) |
| Olympic medals | Silver (2020) |
Breakthrough and Injuries
Marketa Vondrousova had her breakthrough season in 2019 when she reached the final of the French Open without dropping a set. She became the first teenage Grand Slam finalist since Caroline Wozniacki in 2009 and the first Czech woman to reach the Roland Garros final since Hana Mandlikova in 1981. However, she lost to world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty in straight sets.
Shortly after her French Open run, Vondroušová suffered a wrist injury that required surgery and sidelined her for six months. Marketa Vondrousova wore a cast for three months and could not hit a forehand for a long time. She admitted that she was depressed and could not watch tennis during her recovery.
Marketa Vondrousova returned to action in early 2020 but struggled to regain her form and confidence. She also had to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic that disrupted the tennis calendar and forced her to play without fans for most of the year. She managed to reach the fourth round of the Australian Open in 2021 but lost in the first round of both the French Open and Wimbledon that year.
Wimbledon Glory and Olympic Success
Vondroušová entered Wimbledon in 2023 as an unseeded player ranked No. 42 in the world. She had never been past the second round at the All England Club before and had a losing record on grass courts. However, she defied all expectations and played some of the best tennis of her career to reach her second Grand Slam final.
She beat former Wimbledon champion Garbiñe Muguruza in the third round, former world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova in the quarterfinals, and rising star Coco Gauff in the semifinals, all in straight sets. In the final, she faced Ons Jabeur, who was also unseeded and aiming to become the first Arab woman to win a Grand Slam title. Vondroušová prevailed in a tight match that lasted over two hours, winning 6-4, 4-6, 6-3.
Glory
Marketa Vondrousova became the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon since Venus Williams in 2007 and the first Czech woman to win Wimbledon since Petra Kvitova in 2014. She also became the first left-handed woman to win Wimbledon since Martina Navratilova in 1990. She was congratulated by her husband, Adam Šimka, who cried tears of joy after her victory. The couple married in a small ceremony in Prague in May 2022.
Marketa Vondrousova did not have much time to celebrate her Wimbledon triumph, as she had to fly to Tokyo for the Olympic Games. She continued her impressive form and reached the final, where she faced Barty again. This time, she pushed the Australian to three sets, but ultimately fell short of the gold medal, settling for silver. She became the second Czech woman to win an Olympic medal in singles, after Jana Novotna’s bronze in 1996.
Personal Life and Style of Play
Vondroušová lives in Prague with her husband Adam Šimka, who is a professional volleyball player. They met through mutual friends in 2018 and got engaged in 2020. They share a love for sports and tattoos, with Vondroušová having more than 10 tattoos on her body, including one that reads ‘No rain, no flowers’ and another that says ‘It’s OK’. She plans to get another one to commemorate her Wimbledon win, along with her coach Jan Hernych.
Playstyle
Marketa Vondrousova is a versatile player who can adapt to different surfaces and opponents. She has a powerful serve and a solid forehand, but her best shot is her two-handed backhand, which she can hit with depth, angle, and spin. She is also adept at using drop shots, lobs, and slices to disrupt the rhythm of her rivals. Also, she is one of the best returners on the WTA Tour. She led the tour in the percentage of return games won and percentage of return points won in 2019 among all players with at least ten matches.
Idol
Vondroušová cites fellow left-hander Petra Kvitova as her idol and inspiration. She also admires Roger Federer for his elegance and longevity. And she is coached by former ATP player Jan Hernych, who has helped her improve her mental strength and tactical awareness. She is also supported by a team of physiotherapists, fitness trainers, and nutritionists.
Adam Šimka: Marketa Vondrousova’s Husband
Adam Šimka is a professional volleyball player who plays for VK Dukla Liberec in the Czech Republic. He is also the husband of Marketa Vondrousova, the Wimbledon champion and Olympic silver medalist in tennis.
Šimka was born on 18 February 1996 in Prague. He started playing volleyball at the age of 10 and joined the youth academy of VK Dukla Liberec, one of the most successful clubs in the country. Also, he made his debut for the senior team in 2014 and has since become a regular starter and a key player for the club. He plays as a middle blocker and wears the number 13 jersey.
How did they meet?
Šimka met Vondroušová through mutual friends in 2018 and they started dating soon after. They got engaged in 2020 and married in a small ceremony in Prague in May 2023, just before Vondroušová’s Wimbledon triumph. They share a love for sports and tattoos, with Šimka having several tattoos on his arms and legs, including one that says ‘Marketa’ on his wrist. He also promised to get another one to celebrate his wife’s Wimbledon win, along with her coach Jan Hernych.
How he supports?
Šimka is a supportive and proud husband who often accompanies Vondroušová to her tournaments and cheers for her from the stands. He was seen crying tears of joy after her Wimbledon victory and hugging her on Centre Court. He also congratulated her on social media, writing: “You are my hero, my inspiration, my everything. I love you so much.” He also celebrated her Olympic silver medal in Tokyo, calling her “the best in the world”.
Their family
Šimka and Vondroušová live in Prague with their dog, a golden retriever named Hugo. They enjoy spending time together, watching movies, playing games, and traveling. They are one of the most popular and successful sports couples in the Czech Republic.
Conclusion
Marketa Vondrousova is one of the rising stars of women’s tennis, having won Wimbledon in 2023 as an unseeded player. She has overcome injuries and challenges to reach the top of the sport, showing her talent, resilience, and creativity on the court.
She is also a proud representative of her country, having won an Olympic silver medal and two Grand Slam doubles titles as a junior. And she is married to volleyball player Adam Šimka and lives in Prague.
FAQs
How do you pronounce her name?
Her name is pronounced as [‘markɛːta ‘vondrou̯ʃovaː] in Czech. In English, it can be approximated as mar-KAY-ta von-DROO-sho-va.
How old is Marketa Vondrousova?
She is 24 years old as of July 2023.
Who is her husband?
Her husband is Adam Šimka, a professional volleyball player who plays for VK Dukla Liberec in the Czech Republic.
How many tattoos does she have?
She has more than 10 tattoos on her body, including one that reads ‘No rain, no flowers’ and another that says ‘It’s OK’. She plans to get another one to commemorate her Wimbledon win.
What is her net worth?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, she has an estimated net worth of $5 million as of July 2023.
Related Post:
