Marketa Vondrousova surprises herself with brilliant grass court form

Wimbledon finalist Marketa Vondrousova cannot account for her great form on grass.

The Czech star, known for her distinctive tattoos, says that a year ago, she would not have believed that she would make a Wimbledon final.

At just 24-years-old Vondrousova already has significant experience on the WTA Tour, but a lack of matches on grass across her career has made a deep run at Wimbledon seem an impossible dream.

She missed Wimbledon last season with an injury and had to enjoy the event as a spectator, and now a year on, she is in the big show.

“I mean, here on grass, it was almost impossible ’cause, as I said, I didn’t play many matches on grass before,” Vondrousova said when asked to reflect on the difference a year has made.

“My best one was second round.

“Yeah, I mean, for me, when it was clay or hard, maybe I would say, yeah, maybe it’s possible. But grass was impossible for me. It’s even crazier that this is happening.”

She revealed that she spent last Wimbledon tracking the progress of her good friend and doubles partner Miriam Kolodziejová.

Vondrousova added that she spent six months on the sidelines after her surgery.

“We play doubles here also,” Vondrousova said of Kolodziejová.

“We’re best friends. She was playing quallies for the first time last year. With my sister, we went to see her in Roehampton, then we stayed for a week just to see London and stuff.

“I had a cast on. It was after the surgery. Yeah, I didn’t play for almost six months, so it was very tough.

“But yeah, I mean, I’m just so grateful to be here. It’s crazy that this is happening.”

Vondrousova believes that she is better prepared for a Grand Slam final than she was when she reached the championship match in Paris four years ago.

“Yeah, I think it can definitely help in tough moments,” she said of the value of experience.

“Also, like, I’ve been through it. Once I was very young, so I think it was just too much for me back then.

“I think this can help you also on the way. You know what to do. You know you have to have good people around you.

“I mean, definitely it can help. I mean, I’m a bit older now also. Yeah, I think I’m a bit different person.

“I’m just very happy to be through this again.”

Vondrousova will meet Ons Jabeur for the seventh time in their career head-to-head when the final goes down on Saturday.

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