Marketa Vondrousova (CZ): a wondrous star is born!

Marius_Hancu

Marius_Hancu

Talk Tennis Guru
I only saw Markéta Vondroušová [pronounced: Vondroushová] (CZ) play today, beating Krystina Pliskova in straights in Biel for her first WTA SF.
However, one doesn't need a second look to declare her a great talent.

Coming from qualifying (3 victories), she's beaten Beck and Pliskova, both in the 50s.
Great year thus far: 32-4 (ITF included).

She's only 17, #233 until this week, but already at
161 NCH (222) Markéta Vondroušová 17.7 CZE9 344 +72 +128
now, in the up-to-date rankings.

Issued from the great Czech school, which doesn't favor production-line teaching.
Lithe, very quick on her feet, explosive on FH and serve and a lefty; all this makes for an
all-court player in the mold of Kvitova, but perhaps 2-3 feet less tall.
[59 Kg, 1. 72m]

Already on the Czech FedCup team, she will be facing the US next week with her teammates.

Let's hope she has staying power: two of my similar threads cover Muguruza and Halep, but Gasparyan has been less happy lately.

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Jimmie48 Photography‏ @JJlovesTennis
Marketa Vondrousova got a lot of balls back today..this one escaped her.​
 
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@Marius_Hancu, she reached her first WTA SF, not ATP SF. ;)

I read something about her some time ago (I think she was number one in the junior tour for a while), but I'm not prepared to enter the hype train yet. Vekic also showed some promise (1 WTA title, 4 finals) and look at her now.
 
NewOrder said:
@Marius_Hancu, she reached her first WTA SF, not ATP SF. ;)

I read something about her some time ago (I think she was number one in the junior tour for a while), but I'm not prepared to enter the hype train yet. Vekic also showed some promise (1 WTA title, 4 finals) and look at her now.
Click to expand...
Wawrinkas fingers in it (literally)
 
It's the 3rd Vondrousova match ( at Biel ) I'm watching and I'm really impressed.

Difficult to find her height on the web, I'd say she's around 5'9..... but only 17 yo + lefty + all around game....yummy.

:D
 
She's playing beautifully right now. It seems she can do no wrong. Of course I expect her to crash and burn, WTA style, just like all the others. But she's fun to watch right now.
 
Q.E.D.
"Wondrous" :cool: passed with flying colors, in straights, a tough test against stalwart #18 Strychova, giving her class at the end, on all items, except volleying. Watch for her at the Big W. She played like a top 10-20 today, both in shotmaking and mental-wise.

#140 now, probably.

Make no mistake, though: the Biel final with Kontaveit (#74 now) won't be a walk in the park. When you have been through mono, like Kontaveit was, sometimes you become very tough.
 
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She has wonderous touch. And a smart brain.
Likeable.
I commented elsewhere that she reminds me of Konta a few years back before she became the player she is now.
Hopeful.
I also like that her name conjures up the answer to the quiz question: What was the name of the ranch in 'Bonanza'?
:)
 
ScentOfDefeat said:
I was going to post "countdown until someone calls Vondrousova the next big thing: 10...9...8...".
Now I see there was no need for that. The hype machine is quicker than my shadow.
Click to expand...

Not just TT, the commentators are aboard the hypetrain too. Listen at the end, the magic words, "A star is born".


She HAS got the talent. Amazing defence. Neither fixated on ball bashing nor on pushing and scrambling but flexible enough to use both to win points, including some lovely lobs. Of course, many more miles to go...
 
PDJ said:
She has wonderous touch. And a smart brain.
Likeable.
I commented elsewhere that she reminds me of Konta a few years back before she became the player she is now.
Hopeful.
I also like that her name conjures up the answer to the quiz question: What was the name of the ranch in 'Bonanza'?
:)
Click to expand...
She won :)

 
Perhaps "Immense" is too hypey, but that's what they said today :cool:

Not bad, for a 2nd WTA tourney.

Instead of attitude, Schaap would do well to work with Kontaveit on her split steps: they are too lazy and puny, taking her off the ideal position, at the most critical of moments. You can survive vs most players with that, but not against Wondrous, who walks on water on the court :confused:
 
Valiant Vondrousova Brings Home Biel/Bienne Title

Big caveat:
"This was one of my first big tournaments, and I was injured in my left elbow for a lot of last year. I had to do a lot of fitness, which helped me become a better mover."
Vondroušová played at the 2016 Roland Garros junior event, losing in the third round to Olesya Pervushina. Vondroušová did not play for the rest of the year, as she took time out to recover from an elbow injury.

Amazing rankings jump:
117 NCH (222) Markéta Vondroušová 17.7 CZE8 514 +116
 
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Dolgopolov85 said:
Not just TT, the commentators are aboard the hypetrain too. Listen at the end, the magic words, "A star is born".


She HAS got the talent. Amazing defence. Neither fixated on ball bashing nor on pushing and scrambling but flexible enough to use both to win points, including some lovely lobs. Of course, many more miles to go...
Click to expand...

But many have talent. They wouldn't be professional tennis players if they didn't. Signalling it seems useless. Unless one is trying to predict something, which is where I advise some caution based on the last 10 people we've said this about.
 
ScentOfDefeat said:
But many have talent. They wouldn't be professional tennis players if they didn't. Signalling it seems useless. Unless one is trying to predict something, which is where I advise some caution based on the last 10 people we've said this about.
Click to expand...

I didn't mean that kind of talent. I meant the talent to adopt a more original approach to her game. You know, like a Konta or Bencic. In that sense, she could be an interesting player to watch. I am not going to make any predictions. Both times that I had predicted a CYGS for Djokovic, he fell well short. :oops:
 
ScentOfDefeat said:
But many have talent. They wouldn't be professional tennis players if they didn't. Signalling it seems useless. Unless one is trying to predict something, which is where I advise some caution based on the last 10 people we've said this about.
Click to expand...
Well, we need something/someone to get excited about. Especially THERE. Talk about a desert. Of course you're right about the last ten "future greats"; but doesn't that put the law of probability on her side (eventually someone's going to make it through)?
I wish I knew what that elbow problem was about, though. Did she smash it, or was it a "tennis elbow" thing? Not good at 15-16 yrs old.
 
Few things that I like a LOT about Vondrousova : 1/at 17 ( and 10 months ) yo she already has an all court game, she can lob, hit drop shots ( on break points !! ), and already has a very nice volley...I forgot: excellent 2nd serve...and she does not pile up double faults like some other girls...
2/ she does not show her emotions on court, stays pretty cool..( Strycova was talking a lot to herself in the semi-F...).
3/ she handle the pressure ( on break points !! ) really well, I would say a bit like Lucas Pouille ( although Lucas is older..).
Well next big step is the Fed Cup 1/2 finals against the US....I hope Martika can play Coco Vand....... so she can beat her arrogant @ss...
Cheers !
 
Felix le chat said:
Few things that I like a LOT about Vondrousova : 1/at 17 ( and 10 months ) yo she already has an all court game, she can lob, hit drop shots ( on break points !! ), and already has a very nice volley...I forgot: excellent 2nd serve...and she does not pile up double faults like some other girls...
2/ she does not show her emotions on court, stays pretty cool..( Strycova was talking a lot to herself in the semi-F...).
3/ she handle the pressure ( on break points !! ) really well, I would say a bit like Lucas Pouille ( although Lucas is older..).
Well next big step is the Fed Cup 1/2 finals against the US....I hope Martika can play Coco Vand....... so she can beat her arrogant @ss...
Cheers !
Click to expand...
And I would add..... She doesn't grunt!
 
Felix le chat said:
Few things that I like a LOT about Vondrousova : 1/at 17 ( and 10 months ) yo she already has an all court game, she can lob, hit drop shots ( on break points !! ), and already has a very nice volley...I forgot: excellent 2nd serve...and she does not pile up double faults like some other girls...
2/ she does not show her emotions on court, stays pretty cool..( Strycova was talking a lot to herself in the semi-F...).
3/ she handle the pressure ( on break points !! ) really well, I would say a bit like Lucas Pouille ( although Lucas is older..).
Well next big step is the Fed Cup 1/2 finals against the US....I hope Martika can play Coco Vand....... so she can beat her arrogant @ss...
Cheers !
Click to expand...
More than the strycova match, I saw her fight hard in defeat against Stosur on clay. Her shot tolerance is amazing, compared to her more flat, big hitting compatriots.
 
Harry_Wild said:
I sure she might if ask, get a wild card into upcoming Sturgart? tournament in Germany!
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We'll see. Konta got one there.

For now:
---
In less than 4 weeks the biggest female tennis tournament in the Czech Republic will take place in Prague. Today, during the press conference, the organizing committee of the J&T Banka Prague Open 2017 announced the Wild Cards. For now two such passes to the event have been given. First one went to Marketa Vondrousova, a promising local young player
---
 
Watch her with bated breath :cool: in FedCup:

EST
Sat
12:00 Vandeweghe - Vondrousova (USA - Czech Republic)
Sun
12:30 Rogers - Vondrousova (USA - Czech Republic)

On (green, I guess:)) clay in Florida.
 
Harry_Wild said:
I sure she might if ask, get a wild card into upcoming Sturgart? tournament in Germany!
Click to expand...

Kontaveit, the runner up in Biel, didn't. She's in Qs.
It might depend on what Wondrous does with Coco (love the names :cool:) tomorrow on clay in Florida.

She might like/need some rest before Madrid, anyway.
 
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This girl Vondrousova has forehand crosscourt that is like RAFA nadal's. this was like amateur video.....she kept on hitting that crosscourt forehand into Lauren's backhand and she literally couldn't handle it 99 % of the time...... Very very weird to see that in PRO level, since they really have no weakness when hitting from stationary position.
 
Watch her now in Prague on clay (WC)

05:30 EST Witthoeft - Vondrousova (WTA Prague)
She's already 2 breaks up.
Full stadium - Czechs know their tennis.
 
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Carina Witthoeft
7 5 2

Marketa Vondrousova
6 7 6

Not bad at all: Carina is a big, powerful girl.

106 NCH (114) Markéta Vondroušová 17.8 CZE8 514 +9 +3

Getting in the MD at Rolland Garros, perhaps ...
 
OK, Marketa's playing a $100,000 ITF tourney in Trnava this week, trying to get into the Roland Garros MD.

She seems to have achieved that:

104 NCH (107) Markéta Vondroušová 17.8 CZE8 545 +5 +50 Trnava 2 SF

with this excellent result:

QF

be.png

Wickmayer, Yanina
[1]BEL
2 2

cz.png

Vondrousova, Marketa
[6]CZE
6 6

which confirms that at 17, she's quite at home on clay too.

She becomes the highest ranked 17 yo in the WTA.
 
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With a very unsettled view at the top of the WTA, it's exciting to see a lot of apparently solid talent coming up from the teen ranks. Vondrousova is one at the forefront, but we also have Aiaiva, Andreescu, Anisimova, Potapova, etc., etc.

Bring it on.
 
The tournament is streamed, including at:

This streaming site is back again without that funny login: :cool:

There's this streaming site, covers with crystal quality several channels WTA & ATP, quick switching at your fingers
haven't detected viruses, but your responsibility

http:slash slash tinyurl dot com slash jvbuqjt

click ok
select tennis in the right column, then click the match to BOLD
click play in the video column
voila

---
The live scoring
http://itfprocircuit.tennis-live-scores.com/scoreboard.aspx?tid=W-WITF-SVK-02A-2017
shows that the 1st SF is going on live now.
Marketa is in the 2nd.
 
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Marketa's live at the above and other streaming sites.

P.S. She won by 6-0 2-1 Ret.
against #87, Alexandrova, 22, seeded higher.
 
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Markéta is without doubt the greatest czech talent since Martina Navrátilová.
It is no coincidence, that her ideal is no woman but man - Roger Federer.
Maki´s game as well as Roger's, is not just sport, it's art.
And her current statistics 50:6 W/L is incredible.
I hope (and pray:)) that her further development will go in the right direction and she will remain healthy.
 
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