‘Vondrousova has best hands in women’s game’ – Mats Wilander hails Czech star ahead of Wimbledon semi-final

As Marketa Vondrousova prepares for her first Wimbledon semi-final, Mats Wilander says it is ‘no surprise’ to see the Czech underdog at the highest levels of the women’s game.

In 2019, Vondrousova stunned the tennis world with a run to the final of the French Open, losing to Ashleigh Barty.

She has struggled in Grand Slams since, failing to make it past the fourth round during any of the majors, but the world number 42 has pulled out all the stops in a deserved run to the final four at SW19 this year where she will face Elina Svitolina.

And Wilander was full of praise for the 24-year-old, and compared her to some of the very best on tour.

“She’s a great player. very crafty, great hands. She understands the game,” he said.”

“She’s loving the grass and maybe has the best hands in the women’s game along with Ons Jabeur. It’s no surprise to me that she’s making another run in a major because she is a great player.”

And Wilander thinks that Vondrousova’s tennis IQ may well get her over the line, alongside another rare advantage.

“She doesn’t have the power of some of the best players in the world, not even close, but in finesse and tennis IQ and anticipation she is absolutely brilliant,” he added.

“I think on grass it helps that she’s left handed, I think she understands how a left handed should play on grass…It gives you a lot of advantages because the right handlers are not used to playing again lefties.

“If you know how to be a lefty on a grass court you can use a slice serve out wide to the backhand side more effectively that you can on other surfaces, and she seems to understand that and she needs to understand it because she doesn’t have a lot of power on the serve but she gets all that.

“It’s not why she’s doing great but I think it’s definitely a little bit of an advantage.”

– – –