"I had a cast last year... It's crazy to be able to be there holding this trophy. Tennis is crazy," said the 24-year-old Czech who was in London last year to watch her doubles partner play and who had taken the opportunity to go shopping.

"I don't know how I did it. It's never easy to come back, you never know what to expect. I was hoping to be able to come back to a high level... And here I am," she added in a quick flow of words as if afraid that this moment would evaporate like a dream.

Finalist of Roland-Garros and climbed to 14th place in the world in 2019, she was then handicapped by her left wrist which required two surgeries. Falling outside the Top 100, she was 42nd when she started Wimbledon and will be ranked 10th in the WTA on Monday, the best ranking of her career.

Wedding anniversary

Vondrousova had so little expectation of such a London course, having won only two matches on grass in her career heading into Wimbledon this year, that her husband who stayed to keep the cat at home was only allowed to resort to the cat-sitter to be able to attend the final.

So he was there, in the box to see his wife lift the most magical trophy in tennis.

© Valentin RAKOVSKY / AFP

"It's amazing, because tomorrow we celebrate our wedding anniversary," Vondrousova said.

Another mission is already planned since she, who sports a multitude of tattoos, had bet with her coach that he would also get tattooed if one day she won a Grand Slam tournament. "I think we'll go tomorrow," she said.

Her joy and smile contrasted with the distress and tears of Jabeur, still beaten in her third Grand Slam final after Wimbledon and the US Open last year.

"I'm going to have a hard time talking because it's really hard," the 28-year-old Tunisian admitted after receiving the finalist's trophy in tears.

"I will win"

"I'm going to be awful in the photos and it's not going to help me," she added, calling the match "the worst loss of (her) career."

The sadness of Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, beaten in the Wimbledon final, July 15, 2023 © SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP

Because, having become the first player since Serena Williams (2018-2019) to play two finals in a row at Wimbledon with a great course during which she defeated two of the great favorites Elena Rybakina (3rd in the world and who had beaten her last year in the final) and Aryna Sabalenka (2nd), it seemed that the hardest part had been done.

But it was too inconsistent (31 direct faults for 25 winning shots) against an opponent who, for lack of making sparks, was applied (10 winning shots for 13 direct faults).

"I will not give up. I will come back even stronger. One day, I will win a Grand Slam tournament," she said in a voice twisted by distress.

"I had a great tournament. I would have liked to go all the way, but I want to thank my team who have always believed in me. One day, we will get there, I promise you, "she said while her husband was also crying in the box.

After the ceremony, as Vondrousova walked around the court holding up the trophy, Jabeur returned to sit in her chair, reading messages on her phone and answering a few phone calls, until the Princess of Wales came to try to cheer him up.

© 2023 AFP