Wimbledon 2023 - Marketa Vondrousova : "My coach gets a tattoo if I win"
Quatre ans après sa finale perdue à Roland-Garros contre Ashleigh Barty, Marketa Vondrousova fait son retour en finale d'un Grand Chelem, à Wimbledon, et prouve que ce n'était pas un coup de chance. Ce jeudi en demies, Vondrousova a mis fin au magnifique parcours d’Elina Svitolina en deux sets et 1h15 de jeu, 6-3, 6-3. Moins mobile et lucide que les jours précédents, l'Ukrainienne a commis 24 fautes directes pour seulement 9 coups gagnants. Le crédit revient à la gauchère Tchèque qui a joué un tennis juste, même si elle a tremblé au moment de conclure avec de nombre
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00:00 Crazy. It was a very tough match.
00:03 She was coming back.
00:05 She was playing some good tennis.
00:06 So, yeah, I'm just very happy that I stayed focused,
00:10 and I stayed in my head.
00:12 And then I'm happy with the way I finished it.
00:18 Howard.
00:20 Howard Fendrich with the Associated Press.
00:24 Can you take us back to a year ago here?
00:28 How far away did this sort of level of play
00:31 and performances and run seem back then?
00:38 I mean, here on grass, it was almost impossible, you know,
00:41 because, as I said, I didn't play many matches on grass before.
00:45 You know, my best one was second round.
00:48 And, yeah, I mean, for me, when it was, you know, clay or hard,
00:53 maybe, you know, I would say, yeah, maybe it's possible.
00:56 But grass was impossible for me.
00:59 So it's even, you know, crazier that this is happening.
01:03 And you said you were here a year ago watching a friend play.
01:09 Who was that friend?
01:10 And I'm also wondering, when did you get back
01:14 to practicing after the surgery?
01:19 It was Miriam.
01:20 We played doubles here also, her best friends.
01:22 And she was playing qualities for the first time last year.
01:25 So with my sister, we went to see her, you know, in Roehampton.
01:28 And then we stayed for a week just to see London and stuff.
01:31 And I had the cast on, you know.
01:33 I was after the surgery.
01:34 So, yeah, I didn't play for almost six months.
01:38 So it was very tough.
01:39 But, yeah, I mean, I'm just, you know, so grateful to be here.
01:42 And it's crazy that this is happening.
01:47 Congratulations, Marquetta.
01:50 Ava Wallace, The Washington Post.
01:52 Just wondering how this compares to your first Slam final.
01:55 Do you feel like you're a different person or a different player now?
01:59 Yeah, I mean, I think it can definitely help, you know, in the tough moments.
02:04 And also, like, I've been through it, you know, once.
02:06 I was very young.
02:08 So it was, I think it was just too much for me, you know, back then.
02:11 But, yeah, I think this can help you also, you know, on the way.
02:15 And you know what to do.
02:17 And, you know, you have to have good people around you.
02:20 And, yeah, I mean, definitely it can help.
02:25 I mean, I'm, you know, I'm a bit older now also.
02:28 So, yeah, I think I'm a bit different person.
02:31 And, yeah, I'm just very happy, you know, to be through this again.
02:37 Is Miriam here watching you now?
02:39 Yeah.
02:40 Yeah.
02:42 Marquetta, congratulations.
02:44 You're obviously a bit of a fan of tattoos.
02:46 I'm wondering, would you have a Wimbledon tattoo
02:50 if you managed to win the final on Saturday?
02:52 And could you tell us a little bit about some of the ones that you have already?
02:57 I have a bet with my coach.
02:59 And if I win a grand slam, he's going to get one.
03:01 So I hope I will.
03:03 But, yeah, I mean, we'll see, you know, what happens and what I'll do.
03:08 But, yeah, I mean, for me, it's also art, you know.
03:12 It's a, I don't know, I just like it, you know.
03:15 I appreciate the people that do this.
03:17 And, yeah, I mean, it's, I feel like it's also, you know, it's also work and art.
03:24 So I just appreciate the people.
03:25 You said the other day that your husband was at home looking after the cat.
03:32 Will you be able to get a cat sitter?
03:36 He's coming tomorrow with my sister.
03:37 So we texted the cat sitter to, you know, come to our home.
03:43 And he's coming tomorrow.
03:45 Cat's name?
03:46 Frankie.
03:47 Yeah.
03:47 I understand you were dropped by Nike at some point in the last 12 months.
03:55 Can you talk about what happened?
03:57 What were the conversations?
03:58 And clearly you'll have your pick of sponsors if you get the trophy on Saturday.
04:02 Yeah, the contract finished last year.
04:05 And, yeah, it was after four years.
04:07 So they decided, you know, to stop.
04:09 And, yeah, we'll see what happens now.
04:12 You know, I just said, you know, it's going to take time.
04:15 You know, we'll see what's going to happen.
04:17 And now this is happening.
04:18 So we'll see.
04:19 Yeah.
04:20 Talking about your previous injuries, do you think it helped you now to stand where you are now?
04:32 It gives you the strength mentally.
04:35 You're stronger now mentally by going on this process.
04:42 Yeah, I mean, after everything I've been through, you know, two surgeries,
04:46 it's not easy to always come back.
04:48 And, yeah, just you don't know if you can play at this level
04:52 and if you can be, you know, back at the top and back, you know, at these tournaments.
04:57 And I just feel like, you know, I'm just grateful to be on the court again,
05:01 you know, to play without pain.
05:03 So I'm just really grateful for it.
05:08 So after all of this, how would you describe yourself today as a person and as a player?
05:14 You mean today?
05:16 In general.
05:16 Okay.
05:19 Yeah, I mean, I think, you know, it's pretty amazing what's happening.
05:24 And you have to, you know, just have the people around you that's going to, you know,
05:28 just going to stay with you and just, you know, do the things for you
05:33 and just, you know, let you focus on the game and on the final.
05:36 And for me, I don't like these things, you know, talking to you guys.
05:41 It's just too much for me.
05:42 And I'm just, you know, I think I'm just, you know, really happy to be alone,
05:48 you know, in a small circle.
05:49 So these kind of things, I don't like very much.
05:52 I don't enjoy them.
05:53 So for me, it's actually, you know, tough to do it.
05:57 And I just like to stay, you know, on my own or just with a few people.
06:00 So, yeah, but I mean, it's a great thing to do if you're in a final.
06:05 But still, you have to keep your circle small, I think.
06:08 You said at the beginning we could ask you about your next opponent,
06:12 even though we don't know for sure who it will be.
06:15 If you do play Sabalenka, how would you describe that matchup for you?
06:20 We played in Australia this year and she beat me.
06:23 But I think she's playing amazing tennis.
06:26 You know, she hits so hard.
06:27 And it's really, you know, tough to do something when she's on fire.
06:31 And she serves amazing.
06:33 And I think, you know, her game for grass is very, very good.
06:39 You know, we have different styles.
06:41 So, yeah, it would be, you know, it would be an interesting match, I think.
06:45 But I mean, they're both great, great girls and great players.
06:49 So we'll see.
06:50 And if it is Shabur, what specifics about her game are most difficult,
06:55 do you think, for you?
06:57 Yeah, I feel like we're the same, you know, in some things.
07:00 We're playing drop shots, you know, we're playing slice.
07:02 So that's more my game than Sabalenka's.
07:05 But we played a few times already this year.
07:08 So we were supposed to play in Eastbourne also first round, but I withdrew.
07:13 So, yeah, I mean, she played finals here last year.
07:17 And she was playing also US Open final.
07:19 So she's used to playing finals in a Grand Slam.
07:22 So it's also, I mean, it's a final.
07:24 So it's going to be a tough match, no matter who is there.
07:29 I just found that there was a shot you hit, really spectacular forehand shot.
07:33 You know the one I mean?
07:35 Do you practice that?
07:36 How much do you practice that?
07:37 How much is that natural?
07:38 And have you hit a shot like that?
07:39 I never practice that.
07:42 It's just like I couldn't play forehand, you know.
07:45 So that was just the one thing I could do.
07:47 And I think, you know, it's, I don't know, 50/50 if you make it or not.
07:52 But yeah, I mean, for me, it just comes naturally, I think.
07:57 I just don't practice these things.
08:00 Federer used to hit that kind of shot.
08:01 Have you seen someone who's watched him do that?
08:03 Actually, not so much.
08:06 But I feel like, you know, I have more options than just play forehand.
08:11 So you can, you know, you can always try.
08:13 And it's, I don't think it's even 50/50.
08:16 It's maybe, I don't know, 30 to 70 that you can make it.
08:20 Hi, I'm Marquetta, Nick McCarvel, Wimbledon TV.
08:24 I was a little late.
08:24 So if you answered this already, let me know.
08:27 There's been a lot of recent Czech success, obviously on the women's side.
08:30 You're talking about your small circle or any of the other Czech players there.
08:34 And if not, have any of them been mentors for you in the past?
08:38 I mean, I talked with Bára Strícová before the match.
08:42 She's here.
08:43 And I texted also with Karolina Muchova.
08:46 I know we are from the same club.
08:48 So yeah, I mean, I feel like, you know, just we just support each other.
08:52 I also talked with Karolina when she was playing Paris.
08:54 And I was crying so much after the final when she lost.
08:57 So it was really sad.
08:59 And I think it's just, you know, in Czech we have so many great players.
09:04 And I think we also support each other.
09:06 So it's very nice to see.
09:08 Were you giving Karolina advice before the French final?
09:11 I mean, we talked and we also talked after, you know.
09:14 I just told her just, you know, enjoy this moment.
09:18 Even though she lost, you know, it's amazing.
09:20 And yeah, I think she did the right thing.
09:23 You know, she enjoyed it.
09:24 And yeah, we spoke after in Prague.
09:26 And yeah, it's just amazing that we can have that much success.
09:31 Thanks.
09:32 When did that cast come off your wrist?
09:37 And when were you able to return to practicing?
09:41 I think they took it off last year, like around this time.
09:48 Like before my marriage, I think, like a week before our marriage.
09:53 They took it off.
09:54 So it's like, it's a year now.
09:56 When did you start practicing right after that?
10:00 No, I was exercising a lot actually.
10:04 And I think I started like in October maybe.
10:09 And then I practiced a bit.
10:11 And then I started to play tournaments in November.
10:14 Just to check, you mentioned briefly a moment ago, two surgeries.
10:19 Both on the wrist?
10:21 Yeah, both on the left wrist.
10:23 Thank you.
10:24 A bit before your time, but when you were growing up in the Czech Republic,
10:28 were you aware of Martina Navratilova's success here, Jana Nobotná?
10:32 Were you aware of what they had done here at Wembley?
10:35 I mean, I sure know them, but it was, you know, it was, I was very small.
10:41 And of course, you know them, but you don't know them like, you know,
10:46 maybe Petra Kvitova or Plíšková.
10:48 And I think, you know, we're closer to them.
10:51 But I mean, what Martina did here was crazy.
10:54 So I think everybody knows.
10:56 So it's just, you know, it's just amazing thing.
10:59 And I think it's so tough to do it one time, you know, and then she did it,
11:04 I don't know how many times, nine or so.
11:07 Yeah, it's just, I feel like, you know, it's just, you can just look up to them.
11:12 Just clarify, the tattoo questions, how many do you have?
11:15 I don't know.
11:16 [Laughter]
11:19 So just when you said you were here sort of as a tourist last year,
11:26 supporting your friend, can you tell us a few of the sort of things,
11:30 normal things that you did away from the tennis while you were here?
11:34 Yeah, we just, we visited, you know, London Eye and that kind of stuff.
11:39 We went shopping, we went to see, you know, some nice restaurants also.
11:43 But we did, I think we did shopping like, I don't know, five times.
11:47 So it was kind of crazy.
11:49 And we also went to see the match, you know, and then we just went to the city
11:55 and we were like, we were no more tourists.
11:57 Lizette van der Graef, Volkstrand.
12:01 Do you see being a lefty as a big benefit?
12:05 Yeah, I mean, you know, everybody says that, especially on the grass.
12:11 But I think they, you know, the opponent, they also know that you're going to
12:17 maybe play the slice, you know, to the back end.
12:20 So, you know, they are looking for it.
12:22 And yeah, I mean, if you can mix the serve, then I think it's very helpful.
12:27 And also I think it's, you know, in some rallies it's kind of different
12:33 because they're used to playing maybe to back end and we have a forehand there.
12:36 So maybe that, but I mean, for me, it's easier to play right-handed players than left.
12:43 So I think it's, yeah, for us, I think if you can do a good slice, you know,
12:48 from the left side, it's very helpful.
12:51 Hi, Aki Uchida from Smash Magazine.
12:56 Do you think you became more careful with how to take care of your body
13:01 or what do you eat after the injuries?
13:05 I mean, it was very tough with the injuries because, like, I couldn't prevent them.
13:12 You know, it was just like I just had bones floating there.
13:16 So it wasn't about food or about anything.
13:19 And yeah, but like I'm doing so much fitness and everything
13:23 and I'm just trying to take care of my body and just to do the right things.
13:28 And now it's really, you know, helping and I'm staying healthy.
13:32 So I hope I'm going to be healthy next few years.
13:36 I think your results at Wimbledon before this year, you know, you struggled a bit here.
13:42 Was there a moment where you suddenly felt like, yeah, I can actually play on grass?
13:46 And did you get any advice from Martina at all about any of the grass court sort of skills?
13:52 I played Berlin before, so I felt good there.
13:57 You know, I played a couple of matches and it wasn't bad.
13:59 So I was like, yeah, maybe I can, you know, play a few matches here.
14:02 And yeah, I also when I saw the draw, you know, it wasn't easy.
14:06 So I was like, OK, so let's try, you know, and then, you know, I beat Kudermetova,
14:11 Vekic, they are great on grass, you know.
14:13 So I was like, OK, maybe, you know, I'll get better and, you know, I can do something here.
14:18 So for me, it's really crazy this is happening.
14:21 But I mean, I think anything can happen in tennis.
14:24 tennis.