Marketa Vondrousova: Things you might not know about the Wimbledon 2023 champion
Do you know why the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist has multiple tattoos? Find out more about the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon.
Tennis
Markéta Vondroušová wrote tennis history by becoming the first unseeded player to win the women’s Wimbledon title on Saturday (15 July).
The 24-year-old, who secured her first career Grand Slam, had previously reached the French Open final in 2019, where she lost to Ashleigh Barty. Two years later, she won Olympic silver in Tokyo, with Belinda Bencic defeating the Czech in three sets.
Here are five curious things you might not know about Vondroušová.
The meaning of Markéta Vondroušová’s tattoos
Vondroušová has multiple tattoos on her body. Some are for aesthetics reasons, while others are more meaningful.
A tattoo on her right elbow says "No rain, no flowers", which means that success doesn't come easily.
"I think you know, without failure, there is no success, so you have to go through some hard matches. Even if you lose especially, if you keep believing in yourself and yeah, this is the reward," she said in 2021 according to The Sun.
The Wimbledon winner also has her lucky number 13 inked on her body, as well as the five Olympic rings. She had her first tattoo aged 16, and now she as at least ten tattoos on both arms.
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 03: A detailed view of the tattoos seen on Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic as she plays against Peyton Stearns of United States in the Women's Singles first round match on day one of The Championships Wimbledon 2023 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 03, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Sport runs in the family
Vondroušová is the daughter of Jindřiška Anderlová, who was once a prominent volleyball star for Slavia Prague. Her father played tennis for recreational purposes, and he was the reason she got interested in the sport.
The Olympic silver medallist’s maternal grandfather was František Frk, who was Czech national pentathlon champion in 1935.
Before deciding to go for tennis, Vondroušová excelled in skiing, football, table tennis, and floorball. Her father was very pleased when his daughter chose to practise tennis on the highest level.
A big cat lover
Vondroušová is a cat-friendly person. She has a sphynx cat named Frankie, whom her husband and sister have been taking care of while the tennis star has been playing at Wimbledon.
Before the Wimbledon final, the Olympic medalist booked a cat sitter so that her husband and sister could fly to London and watch her claim her first Grand Slam title.
Nicknamed “Maky”
Vondroušová is nicknamed "Maky," which is a common short name for her first name, Marketa. Every day in the Czech Republic is a name day and when she won her semi-final against Elina Svitolina, it was the national name day of Marketa.
In tennis, Vondroušová still uses her last name, despite taking the last name "Simkova" after her marriage last year with IT Project Manager Stepan Simek.
"I didn't want to give it up, because it was my dad who led me to play tennis. And everyone knows me under this name," she said.
Collects trainers
Vondrousova is obsessed with buying shoes. In fact, she owns more than 200 pairs of trainers.
The Czech also has a keen interest in fashion and art.
With the prize money from Wimbledon (£2.35million, $3 million), she might treat herself to another pair of trainers!