Sporting history has been celebrated at the All England Club with Czech Marketa Vondrousova becoming the first unseeded woman to win the Wimbledon Ladies Singles Final.
Four years on from being a Roland Garros finalist to Ash Barty, the 24 year old defeated sentimental favourite Ons Jabeur in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to take the title in front of a packed-out centre court.
Vondrousova was able to contain her nerves despite explaining how anxious she was before the match.
“I was so nervous before. I'm just so grateful and proud of myself,” she said.
The world number 42 who will jump 32 spots to be new world number 10 when the official rankings are updated on Monday, was able to win 16 of the last 18 points of the opening set after Jabeur broke serve in the opening game and led 4-2 but fell away dramatically.
The Tunisian fought back during the second set to take a 3-1 lead, but she couldn't maintain the intensity and was totally restricted from playing her natural game and the tight errors came with match point for Vondrousova a special one cutting a backhand volley cross court to secure her first grand slam victory.
“It was really tough in some moments. I think it was just a great match. We had some great rallies. She's amazing player. She's amazing person. That was the tough part also. We know each other very well,” she said.
“I'm just very happy that I kept fighting in the important moments.”
This time last year, a Wimbledon final was so far off the radar for the 24-year-old and a string of wrist injuries which required multiple surgeries hindered the now Wimbledon champion from even stepping back onto a tennis court.
Vondrousova was in London at last years Championships with her left wrist wrapped in plaster with hope fading as to whether she would ever be back at her best after making the 2019 French Open final.
“Last year at that time. It was impossible. I was watching my best friend here playing quallies. I was a tourist here,” she said.
“On grass I didn't play well before. I think it was the most impossible Grand Slam for me to win.
“When we came, I was just like, try to win a couple of matches. Now this happened, it's crazy.”
Vondrousova now joins fellow winners Jana Novotna and Petra Kvitova from the Czech Republic to lift the Venus Rosewater Dish.
For Vondrousova, she certainly earnt her victory the last fortnight eliminating seeds Veronika Kudermetova (12), Donna Vekic (20), Marie Bouzkova (32), Jessica Pegula (4), Elina Svitolina (WC and former World Number 3) and Ons Jabeur (6).
“I mean, it's unbelievable. I think nobody would have told you this before when we were coming here that I even have a chance to win. I was unseeded. I mean, it's such a crazy journey,” she said.
“I can't believe it still.”
For Jabeur she described it as her toughest loss, having competed in three of the last five slam finals falling short each time.
Other results to come out of Wimbledon on Day 13 were the Gentleman’s Doubles where top seeds Dutchman Wesley Koolhof and Britain’s own Neal Skupski saluted in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 over 15th seeds Granollers/Zeballos to win their first Grand Slam doubles title. They have been the most successful mens doubles combination of the past 18 months and were runners up at the US Open last year.
Australia’s Heath Davidson had a big day on court defeating number two seed Sam Schroder of The Netherlands 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 to win through to the Quad Wheelchair singles final to be played Sunday against top seed and another dutchman Niels Vink. Unfortunately the aussie went down with partner, Canadian Robert Shaw as 2nd seeds to top seeds Schroder and Vink 6-7, 0-6 in the quad doubles final.
Apart from Davidson on Sunday, Storm Hunter will be another aussie competing for a trophy in the Women’s Doubles alongside Belgium's Elsie Mertens as Storm looks to caputure her first grand slam women's doubles trophy with the pair taking on experienced duo with the Men’s Final continuing to build up against Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz.