At Wimbledon,
TOPS
Marketa Vondrousova, with numerous tattoos adorning her arms, made history this Saturday, defeating Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon final. The story is beautiful for the one who a year ago had a cast on her left wrist due to a second operation in three years and who had come to do some sightseeing in London. The story is also tasty because she had won only two matches in her career on this surface before her epic. She becomes the first non-seeded player to triumph in the Temple of Tennis since Billie Jean King in 1963. Under the eyes of her husband who resorted to the cat-sitter at the last moment, to come and watch his wife’s final. Dropped by her equipment supplier Nike in January, she had still not found a sponsor when she arrived in London. She should find some now.
Still beaten in the final of her favorite tournament, the Tunisian, devastated by emotion, broke down during the post-match speeches. For the second consecutive year (and the third time in the Grand Slam final), the Tunisian lost in the final. The Czech Marketa Vondrousova shattered his dream. In tears during the presentation of the trophy, the 28-year-old player, still looking for a first major title, could not hold back her tears, while still slipping a touch of humor. “It’s very hard. I’m going to look ugly in the pictures so that’s not going to help. It’s the most painful defeat of my career,” she complains. Before ensuring, once the tears have dried: “It’s a difficult day but I’m not going to give up. I will come back, stronger”. The most beautiful moment of emotion in a final… which missed it.
FLOPS
For a great final it takes two people and knowing how to manage the pressure of the event… Managing emotions again played a major role this Saturday. And Marketa Vondrousova was a little less taken by the challenge, than the Tunisian inhibited by the heavy pressure attached to the status of favorite. The Czech, without making the match of her life, was the most solid and the most enterprising, like a match point won at the net. Not very powerful, but very creative, it dominated Jabeur who also has the same qualities, as a rule. And if this final will remain unforgettable for the 24-year-old player, it will quickly be forgotten by tennis lovers.
This year at Wimbledon where the weather is particularly capricious, when it’s not raining, it’s windy. The retractable roof of the main court was thus closed, protecting everyone from the wind which exceeded (30 km/h) outside. A good thing for the protagonists of the finale. And probably for the hats of the spectators who would have flown away. It is true that playing in the wind is not the easiest thing to manage in tennis, an already very complicated sport. But Wimbledon is and remains an outdoor tournament. And also the charm of outdoor tennis is knowing how to manage all the elements…