Czech player Marketa Vondrosova takes on Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur alongside Princess Kate, Dame Maggie Smith and Jonathan van Tam in the women’s final at Wimbledon on Saturday afternoon.
The stakes are high for both players as the left-handed Jabeau hopes to become the first African woman to win a Grand Slam, while Vondrosova makes history by becoming the first unseeded player to reach a Wimbledon final in the Open era.
Wimbledon will crown a new winner at the end of the match – which can last up to three sets – who will lift the trophy and take home £2.35 million.
The stands are expected to be full ahead of the biggest final on the tennis calendar, with the Princess of Wales already booked.
Officials from both women’s countries, including former tennis stars Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova, are also in the royal box to support their pursuit of Wimbledon glory.
Jabeur (left) and Vondrosova pose at the net before the start of the match
Princess of Wales Kate Middleton arrives at Wimbledon on Saturday ahead of the women’s singles final
Both players will have their own entourage of support from their respective boxes, which are believed to include Jabeur’s husband Karim Kamoun, a former professional fencer. Vondrosova’s husband, Stepan Simek, has so far stayed home to look after the couple’s cat.
A year ago, world number six Jabeur became the first North African woman, the first Arab woman and the first Muslim woman to reach a Grand Slam final.
She lost to Elena Rybakina, but reached another Grand Slam final a few months later.
Her stunning comeback victory over Aryna Sabalenka on Thursday sealed her place in another final and the star from a coastal city in Tunisia is on track to become the first African woman to win a Grand Slam title.
Meanwhile, former junior world No. 1 Vondrosova comes into Wimbledon unseeded and has already made the final.
Jabeur and Vondrosova squared off on Center Court on Saturday
Players pose with coin tosser Philippa George before the Wimbledon final
Currently ranked 42nd in the world, the Czech is also the second-lowest-ranked player to reach the Wimbledon final since the WTA rankings were introduced, with only Serena Williams ranked lower in 2018 (at No. 181).
Clay was – and is – his favorite surface, it’s what he grew up playing and so when he reached the final of the French Open in 2019 he felt a natural path to prosperity.
Grass, a surface he previously described as ‘impossible’ for him to excel on, was not part of the script.
Even with his six wins and run to the Wimbledon final, he remarkably still has a losing record on grass, with 10 wins and 11 losses. He can enter the field with his first Grand Slam on Saturday.
Whoever wins on Saturday, women’s tennis will have a new Grand Slam winner – in front of a star-studded crowd.
Everyone will stay dry with the center court roof firmly in place amid weather warnings for strong winds in the UK. Heavy rain has also been seen in the capital, but the match will not be delayed due to rain.
The Princess of Wales arrived at Wimbledon before sitting in the Royal Box to watch the women’s singles final.
Kate will take to Center Court to watch Vondrosova against Jabeur from 2pm.
Wearing a pale green skirt and top, the princess chatted with Wimbledon staff, including a ball girl and ball boy, on the Players Lawn.
As patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Kate is a regular face at SW19.
He had a rain-battered visit on the second day of the tournament when he took shelter under an umbrella on Court 18, where he was watching British number one Katie Boulter.
In the afternoon, he moved to the Royal Box where he was joined by former champion Roger Federer.
The Princess of Wales was seen chatting with a ball boy and ball girl before the final
Jabeur (above) celebrates after beating Aryna Sabalenka to reach the Wimbledon final on Saturday
Vondrousova comes from a lineage of sports stars and is thriving in tennis herself
He still holds the unbeaten record on grass with 10 wins and 11 losses before the final
The world number 6 is on track to become the first African woman to win a Grand Slam title
Fans vented their frustration on Saturday morning when organizers closed the venue from 9am to 11.59am, due to a yellow weather warning for winds in Wimbledon row.
Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey previously warned: ‘There is one [yellow wind warning] Saturday covers Wimbledon and could have a good impact on the competition.
‘This will bring cloudy conditions and again rain and showers are expected.’
The Czech finalist draws eyes across the club – but not for his tennis!
Vondrosova has stood out from the crowd at Wimbledon for a number of reasons.
While white clothes make one tennis star look like any other, Czechs have distinctive features that make them unmistakable.
He began his love affair with tattooing various designs as a teenager, even with a tattoo gun and stick and punch.
‘I actually got the first one when I was 16 for my birthday and I don’t know, I thought I wanted more!’ Vondrosova told the BBC.
‘It’s art for me and I have 3 or 4 (tattoo artists) I go to in Prague.’
As for many of his designs – he is largely selective about how much he reveals publicly.
One, visible on his right tricep, reads ‘No rain, no flowers’.
It seems fitting for a player who, 12 months ago, was injured in this tournament just like the rest of us.
Wimbledon tweeted a reminder before gates opened: ‘Please note the queue is closed today and therefore no tickets are available for sale.
‘We ask that you do not travel to Wimbledon today unless you are an existing ticket holder.’
Cathy Yates, 54, and her son Daniel Yates, 27, were turned away at the gate when they tried to queue for a ground pass on Saturday.
The pair took a flight from Aberdeen and stayed in a hotel on Friday night to get a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ to watch the tournament.
Mrs Yates said: ‘We spent over £300. Two other members of our family got tickets in the ballot.
‘We all came down together. We have been queuing up since 7am today.
“We have been planning this for a long time. We don’t get together often. I have a son who lives in Edinburgh.
‘We’ve made it a family reunion and half the family can get in and half the family can’t.’
Thiago Veloso, 48, and his 15-year-old son Vincente arrived at Wimbledon at 8am, queuing for tickets.
Mr Veloso said: ‘We arrived yesterday. It was terrible weather. Rain canceled all the games and we came today to watch the ground games, U-14 and Junior, because (my son) wanted to watch.
‘I don’t understand, the weather was worst yesterday. I do not understand the decision.
‘It’s a very depressing morning. We had high expectations because the weather yesterday was terrible and today we weren’t expecting it.’
Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey earlier told the PA news agency: ‘There is a (yellow wind warning) covering Wimbledon on Saturday and it could well affect the competition.
‘This will bring cloudy conditions and again rain and showers are expected.’
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