Tattooed Wimbledon Finalist Marketa Vondrousova Solves Feline Dilemma

Marketa Vondrousova

Tattooed Wimbledon finalist finally found solution for her cat

The Czech Marketa Vondrousova not only stands out because of her tattoos, she also plays tennis very successfully and can win her first Grand Slam title in Wimbledon on Saturday.

Published15. Jul 2023, 12:14 p.m

Marketa Vondrousova hat gut lachen.

AFP

The Czech is in the Wimbledon final, it’s her second Grand Slam final.

AFP

In the semifinals she defeated the Ukrainian Elina Svitolina.

AFP

The many tattoos on the arms of the Czech are striking.

AFP

For Vondrousova, tattoos are art.

AFP

She has a bet going: if she wins the title, her coach will have to get a tattoo too.

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Ons Jabeur is Vondrousova’s opponent in the final. The Tunisian could become Africa’s first Grand Slam winner.

REUTERS

Jabeur defeated world number two Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals.

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Marketa Vondrousova impresses with good tennis – and many tattoos.

The Czech meets Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon final.

The Tunisian could become Africa’s first Grand Slam winner.

Marketa Vondrousova is in a Grand Slam final for the second time. In 2019 she lost the final of the French Open against Australia’s Ashleigh Barty – now she will face Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur in the Wimbledon final on Saturday. The 24-year-old Czech currently impresses with her successful tennis. But she is not only noticed because of that, but also because of her many tattoos.

There are few players on the Tour with so many visible tattoos, Vondrousova is one of the exceptions. Now she is presenting them on the largest possible tennis stage. At Wimbledon, the regulations were always at their most extreme. The only white clothing has survived to this day, even if some labels have been changed in recent years. It was recently decided that the players can wear colorful underpants, a revolution in the rules.

Does the trainer get one too?

But back to Vondrousova’s tattoos: the Czech has already suffered a number of injuries in her career, she was out for months because of her left wrist, which had to be operated on twice. She also had plenty of time to get her tattoos done. Fans talk shop about the different meanings of the tattoos. The only obvious thing is a lettering that reads: “No rain, no flowers – no rain, no flowers.”

One can interpret this as if she believes that one has to go through difficulties in order to be successful. Injuries are definitely one of them. She doesn’t know exactly how many tattoos she has, Vondrousova claims. “It’s also art for me.” And she has a bet going with her coach: “If I win a Grand Slam tournament, he’ll get one too. So I hope I can do it.”

Cat has sitter, man can be there

Vondrousova has now also managed that her husband can watch her live. So far, he has missed his wife’s triumphal march in Wimbledon. While the Czech stormed into the final, he had to look after Frankie the cat at home. But the Vondrousovas finally found a solution for the final.

«We wrote to the cat sitter to come to our house. And he’s coming, »Vondrousova said. So her husband can travel to London with her sister to attend his wife’s second Grand Slam final.

First African Grand Slam winner?

Opponent Jabeur is already in her third Grand Slam final, it is even the second Wimbledon final in a row for the Tunisian. But the Jabeur of 2022 has nothing to do with the Jabeur of 2023. In addition to the experiences from two Grand Slam finals, it is above all her two injury breaks in the past few months (an operation on her knee and a calf injury) that would make her go into the renewed duel for the Wimbledon title with a completely different feeling said Jabeur. “I think the injuries brought me down a bit and taught me to be patient and accept things as they are,” said the 28-year-old.

She has successively defeated top players Bianca Andreescu, Petra Kvitova, defending champion Jelena Rybakina and world number two Aryna Sabalenka. The way to the final could hardly have been much more difficult. “I think that gives me confidence to be ready for the final,” said Jabeur, who can be sure of support at home. As the first player on the African continent, she can win a Grand Slam tournament on Saturday. “I hope I can make history. Not just for Tunisia, but for Africa,” said Jabeur.

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2023-07-15 10:14:09
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