The pressure is on for Marketa Vondrousova at the US Open 😬 How far will the Wimbledon champion go in New York? 🗽 #USOpen | @VondrousovaM
Marketa Vondrousova has said that she is not putting pressure on herself to win the US Open after her surprise victory at Wimbledon.
Czech player Vondrousova shocked the tennis world last month when she became the first unseeded player to win the Slam. The 24-year-old defeated the likes of Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina, Marie Bouzkova and Donna Vekic on her way to the final.
Once there, she faced sixth seed Ons Jabeur, who also made the SW19 final in 2022. Despite the odds being against her, Vondrousova emerged victorious, winning the match 6-4, 6-4 to take her first Grand Slam title.
Following her victory at the All England Club, Vondrousova has climbed up the WTA Ranking and now enters the US Open as the ninth seed. However, she has stated ahead of the tournament that she's not putting pressure on herself to win the Slam.
"At least I have one [Grand Slam title], so it's good. For me, I never want to think I can win another [Grand Slam]. I feel like it's just too much pressure for me if I think that, if I start think about it before tournament, or if I'm in the tournament," she said.
Vondrousova added that whenever she feels under pressure, she tries to put things into perspective.
"I just learned to keep the pressure off, like tell myself it's just a tennis match, it's nothing else. I feel like that really helps me when I'm maybe down in my match or something. I'm just thinking it's just a tennis match, it's nothing else. I don't know if it's a good thing or no, but it really helps me. I feel like for me it's a good sign," she continued.
Vondrousova has also spoken about the shift in people's expectations of her following her Wimbledon win.
"I'm not the underdog anymore. I have to get used to that," she said.
The pressure is on for Marketa Vondrousova at the US Open 😬 How far will the Wimbledon champion go in New York? 🗽 #USOpen | @VondrousovaM