The lush green grass of Wimbledon has always been a stage for captivating surprises. This year’s women’s singles champion, Marketa Vondrousova, has left fans and pros alike in awe of her extraordinary victory. The young Czech athlete not only secured her maiden Wimbledon title but also made history as the first unseeded woman to claim this prestigious Grand Slam.
Patrick Mouratoglou, renowned tennis coach and former mentor to Serena Williams, recently shared his insights on Vondrousova’s remarkable journey and the challenges women players face on this unique surface.
According to Mouratoglou, the mystery of grass courts in tennis is that it makes the game highly unpredictable. Grass is a special surface that demands a different style of play than other courts. Some women players, like Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka, have struggled to find their comfort zone on grass. On the other hand, Elena Rybakina shows great promise on this surface despite a recent slump in her performance.
On his Instagram page, Mouratoglou said, “So yeah, we had surprising players, I mean not Ons (Jabeur) because it’s her second final here. So it’s not a surprise. I think she was back to a very good level, but the winner (Marketa) Vondrousova is a big surprise.” Vondrousova’s journey to the final showcased her exceptional skills and unwavering self-belief.
As Mouratoglou pointed out, “If you look at Iga Swiatek, you never felt during the tournament that she was really comfortable on grass. Same for (Aryna) Sabalenka.” In contrast, Vondrousova displayed remarkable confidence and belief in herself, match after match.
Mouratoglou further elaborated, “She (Marketa Vondrousova) probably didn’t say it herself ‘I’m gonna reach the finals of Wimbledon this year.’ That’s probably not the case, but match after match she believed she could win the next one and the next one until she reached the final.”
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Marketa Vondrousova’s triumph at Wimbledon was unexpected and awe-inspiring. Her journey to the final showcased her unwavering belief in herself and her game, which ultimately propelled her to victory.
According to Mouratoglou, “I think when you have reached one grand slam final, you can only envision you doing it because you’ve done it already.” This mindset empowered Vondrousova to surpass all expectations and claim her place in history.
The final against Ons Jabeur, who was the favorite to win, saw Vondrousova’s game reach new heights. Her calm and composed demeanor on the court allowed her to execute her shots with precision, causing significant trouble for her opponent. This effective combination of her game style and the grass court’s characteristics worked in her favor and proved to be the key to her victory.
The lesson here, ladies? BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND YOUR GAME – and the sky will be your limit, on and off the court!
