3 weeks ago
23
Upon clinching a berth in the US Open quarterfinals, tennis star Marketa Vondrousova broke down in tears feet away from the court.
Moments after taking down No 9 seed Elena Rybakina, Vondrousova sat down in her courtside chair and put her towel over her face, evident the emotions of getting back to a prominent spot in the tennis world meant a lot to her.
Hand and shoulder injuries had kept Vondrousova from being at her best since becoming the first person to win a Wimbledon singles title as a unranked player in 2023.
Two surgeries later, she is three victories away from winning her second Grand Slam title.
'It’s amazing. It was an amazing match. After everything I’ve been through, it’s amazing to be standing here again,' Vondrousova said
Vondrousova knows heartbreak at major tournaments too, when she became the first reigning Wimbledon champion to lose in the first round since 1994 a year ago.
Marketa Vondrousova was overcome with emotion after reaching the US Open quarterfinals
Vondrousova will now have to beat top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka to keep her tournament going
Arguably Vondrousova's biggest test left in the tournament is waiting in the quarterfinals, as she will take on No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
The 26-year-old Czech has already defeated three ranked players in New York, including American McCartney Kessler and No 7 seed Jasmine Paolini.
Before the injuries, Vondrousova's last appearance in a Grand Slam quarterfinal was in Flushing, when she fell to Madison Keys, who in turn, fell to Sabalenka in the semifinals.
Based on Vondrousova's resurgent performance, she will likely vault up the rankings, based on her return to the final eight of a major tournament.
Vondrousova will enter Tuesday's matchup as a major underdog, having lost four of five all-time meetings against Sabalenka on hard court, and three of four meetings against the world No 1 at Grand Slams.
