Tennis: Opponents will probably be gunning for Marketa Vondrousova in Montreal

4 months ago 2 min read

Marketa Vondrousova is aware of she has a goal on her again as she begins play within the Nationwide Financial institution Open on the Nationwide Tennis Centre in Montreal.

“There will probably be extra expectations on me to win after Wimbledon, stated the 24-year-old Czech, who shed her reputations as perennial runner-up when she defeated Ons Jabeur 6-4, 6-4 within the ultimate of the distinguished grass court docket occasion.

Vondrousova grew to become the primary unseeded participant to win the Grand Slam event, defeating 4 seeded gamers for her first event win since she triumphed at Biel, Switzerland, as a 17-year-old WTA Tour rookie.

Vondrousova nearly didn’t make it to the ultimate at Wimbledon. Within the quarter-finals, she trailed Jessice Pegula 1-4 within the deciding third set and the American had a break level for a 5-1 lead. Vondrousova saved that time and received 5 consecutive video games for the victory.

Vondrousova had one other comeback within the ultimate. Jabeur broke her at like to take a 4-2 lead within the first set, however Vondrousova received 16 of the following 18 factors to win the set and had the one break within the second set.

When she was requested Friday when she knew she may win at Wimbledon, she replied: “After I was up 6-4, 5-4 within the ultimate.”

Wimbledon was Vondrousova’s second Grand Slam ultimate and it went higher than the 2020 French Open, when a 19-year-old Vondrousova received solely 4 video games in opposition to Ash Barty.

Regardless of the one-sided loss, most specialists noticed a brilliant future for Vondrousova, who mixed highly effective floor strokes with a robust tactical sport. However she skilled issues along with her left wrist and he or she was out of motion for six months final yr whereas recovering from a second operation. She was ranked No. 44 going into Wimbledon and arrived in Montreal as a career-high No. 10. She is seeded ninth right here and can play her first-round match in opposition to Mayar Sherif of Egypt.

Qualifying play started Saturday and a younger Canadian supplied some drama within the opening match on centre court docket.

Marina Stakusic, an 18-year-old from Mississauga who’s No. 414, went toe-to-toe and saved two match factors earlier than dropping to American Alycia Parks 4-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Parks, who’s No. 48, and Venus Williams share the file for the quickest server on the U.S. Open (129 miles an hour), however the serve was extra of a hindrance for Parks on Saturday. She had 10 aces, but additionally served up 17 double faults, together with two on break factors.

Carol Zhao of Richmond Hill certified for the principle draw at Wimbledon earlier this yr, however the 28-year-old Stanford grad was no match for Spaniard Cristina Bucsa, dropping 6-3, 6-3.

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