Rafael Nadal Says Foot Injury Will Dictate Wimbledon Status After French Open Title
Jun 5, 2022
PARIS, FRANCE - JUNE 05: Rafa Nadal of Spain celebrates his victory with the Musketeers Cup after the men's final against Casper Ruud of Norway on Day 15 of The 2022 French Open at Roland Garros on June 5, 2022 in Paris, France. (Photo by Antonio Borga/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal won his 14th French Open title and 22nd Grand slam title Sunday, but his status for Wimbledon will be determined by a chronic left foot injury that was so bad at Roland Garros that he played in the tournament with "no feeling" in the foot.
"I’m going to be at Wimbledon if my body is ready to be at Wimbledon," he told reporters Sunday. "Nobody wants to miss Wimbledon."
Nadal added that he played the French Open with an "injection on the nerve, so the foot was asleep" during his run to the title, which culminated with Sunday's 6-3, 6-3, 6-0 win over Casper Ruud in the final.
"As everyone knows in the world of tennis, my preparation was not ideal," he told reporters "Outside of the practice courts I was off the [ATP] Tour for one month and a half with a stress fracture in the rib, and then I have the foot that is something that stays there all the time."
Nadal has Mueller-Weiss syndrome, a degenerative condition that affects the bones in his feet. Last season, the condition cost him appearances at Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, and while he said Sunday that he plans to "keep fighting to try to keep going" in his career, it will come down to his health.
"We need to find a solution," he added. "I can't keep going the way that I am doing."
Through the pain, Nadal moved two Grand Slam titles clear of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic on the all-time list, with the two men holding 20 apiece. The golden age of men's tennis has seen that trio win 62 of the last 75 Grand Slam titles, a remarkable run of dominance.
Nadal, meanwhile, has won 14 of the past 18 titles at Roland Garros. He's also won both Grand Slams this season, at the age of 36.
Given his injuries, nobody would blame Nadal if he rode into the sunset as arguably the greatest men's player in history. But body permitting, Nadal seems to have more fight in him.
NBA Legend Yao Ming Says He Was 'Chatting Happily' with Peng Shuai Last Month
Jan 17, 2022
Yao Ming, head of the Chinese Basketball Association and Ice Snow Sports Promotion Ambassador speaks during a Linjia 7 Salon afternoon tea with journalists at Beijing International Club in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 17, 2022. Former NBA great Yao Ming said Monday he and others had a pleasant talk when they met last month with Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, whose disappearance after making a sexual assault allegation against a former government official raised international concern. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
Former NBA player and current Chinese Basketball Association President Yao Ming told reporters Monday that he spoke with tennis player Peng Shuai last month when they attended a winter sports exhibition together.
"She was in pretty good condition that day," he said. "We were all chatting happily and asking a lot of questions about the sport since we weren't familiar with it."
Peng had disappeared from the public eye after she accused retired Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault in a social media post in November, causing concern for her safety and well-being. The Chinese government removed her post, and Peng has since denied making those comments.
"I have never spoken or written about anyone sexually assaulting me," she told Singaporean newspaper Lianhe Zaobao in December.
After Peng disappeared from the public eye, a number of tennis players spoke out:
I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time. #whereispengshuaipic.twitter.com/GZG3zLTSC6
In response, social media posts from state-sponsored journalists showed Peng in public.
I acquired two video clips, which show Peng Shuai was having dinner with her coach and friends in a restaurant. The video content clearly shows they are shot on Saturday Beijing time. pic.twitter.com/HxuwB5TfBk
Peng Shuai showed up at the opening ceremony of a teenager tennis match final in Beijing on Sunday morning. Global Times photo reporter Cui Meng captured her at scene. pic.twitter.com/7wlBcTMgGy
As well, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach said he spoke to Peng on a video call and scheduled a dinner with her in January.
"I was relieved to see that Peng Shuai was doing fine, which was our main concern," said IOC Athletes' Commission Chair Emma Terho, who also took part in the call. "She appeared to be relaxed. I offered her our support and to stay in touch at any time of her convenience, which she obviously appreciated."
Human Rights Watch accused the IOC of "sportswashing" human rights violations against Peng.
"In 2008 we were hopeful that they [the IOC] would show some spine and oblige Chinese authorities to live up to some basic promises," said Sophie Richardson, the China Director for Human Rights Watch. "I almost think fondly back to those days because, if nothing else, the IOC has shown in the last few days just how desperate it is to keep a Games on the rails no matter the human cost."
China is set to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing in February.
The WTA has called for a full investigation into the situation and has suspended events in China.
As for Yao, the former NBA great, who became president of the state-affiliated CBA in 2017, said he has known Peng for "almost 20 years" and talked about the winter competition they attended together.
"We are both from the South ... and very intrigued by a winter sport competition in Shanghai—we felt like kids again," he said.
Novak Djokovic Receives COVID-19 Vaccine Medical Exemption from Australian Open
Jan 4, 2022
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik during a Davis Cup quarter final match between Serbia and Kazakhstan at the Madrid Arena stadium in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Australian Open organizers confirmed Tuesday that reigning Aussie Open champion Novak Djokovic received a medical exemption from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, allowing him to play in the tournament this month.
Happy New Year! Wishing you all health, love & joy in every moment & may you feel love & respect towards all beings on this wonderful planet.
I’ve spent fantastic quality time with loved ones over break & today I’m heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let’s go 2022! pic.twitter.com/e688iSO2d4
"Djokovic applied for a medical exemption which was granted following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts.
"One of those was the Independent Medical Exemption Review Panel appointed by the Victorian Department of Health. They assessed all applications to see if they met the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation guidelines."
Djokovic has not revealed his vaccination status, but he had expressed doubt about whether he could play in the 2022 Australian Open because of the requirements.
Djokovic's father, Srdjan Djokovic, told Serbian television before the exemption that Nole was likely to withdraw from the Australian Open, and he compared the tournament's vaccination requirement to blackmail.
The 34-year-old Djokovic is one of the greatest and most accomplished tennis players of all time with 20 career Grand Slam singles titles to his credit.
Three of those titles came last year as Djokovic won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon before falling short of the calendar Slam by losing to Daniil Medvedev in the final of the U.S. Open.
Djokovic has achieved his greatest success at the Australian Open, winning the tournament a record nine times, including each of the past three years.
Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic remain the three biggest stars in men's tennis, which is fitting since they are all tied for the Open Era record with 20 Grand Slam singles titles.
Federer is out for the Aussie Open while continuing to recover from injuries that cost him most of last year, while Nadal appears ready to compete after recovering from COVID-19.
Should Djokovic and Nadal both progress through the Australian Open, a final for the all-time Grand Slam singles title lead could be in the offing.
Wimbledon Working 'Behind the Scenes' to Establish Peng Shuai's Safety
Nov 20, 2021
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 23: Shuai Peng of China plays a backhand during her Women's Doubles first round match with partner Shuai Zhang of China against Veronika Kudermetova of Russia and Alison Riske of the United States on day four of the 2020 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 23, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Wimbledon released a statement on Saturday regarding missing Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai, saying it was "working in support of the WTA's efforts to establish her safety through our relationships behind the scenes."
We are united with the rest of tennis in the need to understand that Peng Shuai is safe.
Peng was a 2013 women's doubles champion at Wimbledon alongside Hsieh Su-Wei, with whom she also won the 2014 French Open women's doubles.
The 35-year-old hasn't been seen publicly since accusing former Communist Party Standing Committee member Zhang Gaoli of sexual assault.
Shen Shiwei, who works for CGTN—China Central Television's English outlet—posted pictures of Peng on Twitter on Friday, claiming they were from Peng's WeChat and were accompanied by the message "Happy Weekend," per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN).
"In the past few days, she stayed in her own home freely and she didn't want to be disturbed," Hu Xijin, the editor of the Communist Party's Global Times, wrote on Twitter. "She will show up in public and participate in some activities soon."
I confirmed through my own sources today that these photos are indeed Peng Shuai's current state. In the past few days, she stayed in her own home freely and she didn't want to be disturbed. She will show up in public and participate in some activities soon. https://t.co/VGLt6qoOOh
Hu also posted two videos reportedly from Saturday:
I acquired two video clips, which show Peng Shuai was having dinner with her coach and friends in a restaurant. The video content clearly shows they are shot on Saturday Beijing time. pic.twitter.com/HxuwB5TfBk
Given that the pictures and video are being disseminated by Chinese state media—alongside the fact that Peng has not been seen in public by independent sources—skepticism abounds regarding the tennis player's safety.
WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon released a statement in response to the videos, calling them "insufficient" in proving Peng's health and well-being, per Andy Sims of the Evening Standard:
I am glad to see the videos released by China state-run media that appear to show Peng Shuai at a restaurant in Beijing.
While it is positive to see her, it remains unclear if she is free and able to make decisions and take actions on her own, without coercion or external interference. This video alone is insufficient.
As I have stated from the beginning, I remain concerned about Peng Shuai's health and safety and that the allegation of sexual assault is being censored and swept under the rug.
I have been clear about what needs to happen and our relationship with China is at a crossroads.
Simon said in a statement Wednesday that Peng "must be allowed to speak freely, without coercion or intimidation from any source. Her allegation of sexual assault must be respected, investigated with full transparency and without censorship. The voices of women need to be heard and respected, not censored nor dictated to."
"We are deeply concerned by reports that Peng Shuai appears to be missing after accusing a former PRC [People's Republic of China] senior official of sexual assaults," White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters on Friday. "We join in the calls for PRC authorities to provide independent and verifiable proof of her whereabouts and that she is safe."
A number of current and former WTA and ATP players have also called for information on Peng's whereabouts:
I am devastated and shocked to hear about the news of my peer, Peng Shuai. I hope she is safe and found as soon as possible. This must be investigated and we must not stay silent. Sending love to her and her family during this incredibly difficult time. #whereispengshuaipic.twitter.com/GZG3zLTSC6
The news about Peng Shuai is deeply upsetting. I want to lend my voice of support to an incredibly courageous fellow WTA player and pray that she is found safe and well 🙏#whereispengshuaipic.twitter.com/5j7Xz65Gdr
"This is horrifying. I mean, a person is missing," Novak Djokovic said at the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy. "The whole community, tennis community needs to back her up and her family, make sure that she's safe and sound because if you would have tournaments on Chinese soil without resolving this situation, it would be a little bit strange."
Simon said during an interview on CNN on Thursday that the WTA is "definitely willing to pull our business and deal with all the complications that come with it" in China if Peng is not safely accounted for and her accusations aren't investigated.
There have already been calls to boycott the 2022 Winter Olympics, which are being held in Beijing, over China's human rights abuses. United States President Joe Biden told reporters this week he was "considering" a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Games.
ATP World Tour Finals 2021 Results: Djokovic, Ruud Wins Highlight Friday Results
Nov 19, 2021
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating Britain's Cameron Norrie during their ATP World Tour Finals singles tennis match, at the Pala Alpitour in Turin, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Djokovic won 6-2, 6-1.(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Coming into Friday, Novak Djokovic had already secured a semifinal berth in the ATP World Tour Finals with two wins in his first two Green Group matchups. That didn't stop him from hammering Cameron Norrie, however.
Djokovic went a perfect 3-of-3 in the group stage, beating Norrie 6-2, 6-1 on Friday.
"I tried not to think about tomorrow's semifinal," he said during his on-court interview after the match, per ATPTour.com. "It is not easy to walk on the court knowing you have already qualified and you know your opponent. I tried to be professional and I tried to give my best and I played really well. It was the first time we have played each other. I took the time away from Cameron. I analyzed his game and knew the game plan and executed it very well."
Djokovic will face Alexander Zverev on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET, while Casper Ruud—who beat Andrey Rublev earlier on Friday, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6—will take on Red Group winner and defending U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev at 8 a.m. ET.
"[My tennis] gets better and better every match," Djokovic said. "I couldn't be more satisfied with my tennis prior to possibly the two most important matches in the tournament. Sascha is playing well. He is obviously one of the best players in the world, arguably the best serve, it is definitely up there. It is going to be tough. The conditions are quick, so that will be one of the keys, how well will I serve and return."
While Djokovic, Medvedev and Zverev are the top three in the ATP rankings, in that order, Ruud sits at No. 8 and has never played in this tournament before. He was the final qualifier for this year's event.
"Even though I'm the fourth guy, I don't consider myself the fourth-best player in the world," he told reporters. "Tomorrow will be a fun day—probably the biggest match of my career."
But Djokovic is the clear favorite among the remaining players. He's now an astonishing 51-6 on the year, having claimed the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles. Only a loss to Medvedev in the U.S. Open final kept him from achieving the extraordinarily rare season Grand Slam.
And regardless, he still posted one of the finest seasons in recent memory. A title in Turin would only further add to that dominance.
Indian Wells Tennis 2021: Grigor Dimitrov Advances, Angelique Kerber Upset
Oct 15, 2021
Grigor Dimitrov, of Bulgaria, reacts after beating Hubert Hurkacz, of Poland, at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament Thursday, Oct. 14, 2021, in Indian Wells, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
There were fireworks in Indian Wells, California, as Thursday's slate of BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals were filled with fireworks with comebacks, upsets and historic wins.
23rd-seeded Grigor Dimitrov continued his run of upsets with a three-set comeback win over No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz. No. 21 Cameron Norrie took down No. 11 Diego Schwartzman in straight sets. On the women's side, No. 21 Paula Badosa upset No. 10 Angelique Kerber, and No. 12 Ons Jabeur made history in her win over No. 18 Anett Kontaveit.
You can take a look at a breakdown of that match below and the highlights from Thursday alongside a rundown of the day's scores.
Dimitrov and Hurkacz played an exciting match full of highlights. After Hurkacz took the first set 6-3, Dimitrov upped the intensity in the second set. But Hurkacz got the momentum back with this point:
Dimitrov had to settle down, committing two double-faults in each of the first two sets. He managed to save two break points at 3-3, 15-40 in the second set before closing it out 6-4 to force a deciding third set for the second straight day.
Dimitrov jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the third set but failed to serve out the match as Hurkacz stormed back and forced a tiebreaker. But he ran out of gas as the tiebreaker was all Dimitrov, who took it 7-2.
"I stayed in it. Especially after that first set it was very hard for me to find my range today," Dimitrov said in his on-court interview. "I was a little bit tired from yesterday and didn’t feel I really had enough time to rest and push, but I still felt and I knew I had something in me.
"I knew that I had to step up and be a little bit more aggressive," he continued. "I started reading his serve a little bit more and I had a few more looks. I kept trying and believing, and I think that made the difference."
After upsetting No. 6 seed Casper Ruud in the round of 16 on Wednesday, Schwartzman just couldn't match Norrie's energy on Thursday and fell behind early on his way to getting blanked in the first set.
Norrie won 15 of the first 17 points against Schwartzman. Then lost the next three but still held.
Norrie has shown that he doesn't take his foot off the gas, winning 37 of 41 matches this season when he takes the first set. He took the second set 6-2 as Schwartzman couldn't get anything going against the 26-year-old and looked out of sorts at times.
"Everything went my way today," Norrie said in his on-court interview. "Right from the beginning I was timing the ball well. I thought I was in for a long match because the previous times we have played have been so long and so physical, so I was ready for that."
For Norrie, Thursday's win adds to a breakout year as he reached his first Masters 1000 semifinal.
"I have been pretty consistent this year," Norrie added. "I think I am really doing the fundamentals well on serve and return and playing the big points better. I have been a little more aggressive and feel I am learning more as I go along and becoming more experienced."
Dimitrov and Norrie had faced each other just once before, with Norrie coming out on top in straight sets at this year's Miami Open.
Badosa powered past Kerber in straight sets to become the first Spanish woman since 2003 to reach the BNP Paribas Open semifinals.
After a 6-4 win in the first set, Badosa jumped out to a 5-2 lead and looked to be in total control. But Kerber didn't give up, holding off Badosa from winning match point twice and battling back to a 5-5 tie. Badosa then settled down and won the next two games to avoid a tiebreaker.
She finds a way!
Just about 20 minutes after her first two match points, Paula Badosa converts her third to defeat Angelique Kerber 6-4, 7-5. #BNPPO21pic.twitter.com/aC7tK3aMeV
The 12th-seeded Jabeur was the only higher-seeded player to avoid an upset Thursday, topping No. 18 Kontaveit in straight sets and ending Kontaveit's nine-match and 18-set winning streaks. With the win, Jabeur became the first Arab tennis player, male or female, ever to earn a spot in the top 10 in the world rankings.
It was Jabeur's 48th match win in 2021, which leads all WTA players. She will be playing in the semifinals of a WTA 1000 event for the first time in her career.
Indian Wells Tennis 2021: Tsitsipas, Zverev Advance, Swiatek, Svitolina Upset
Oct 13, 2021
INDIAN WELLS, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 12: Jessica Pegula of the United States plays a forehand against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine during their match on Day 9 of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on October 12, 2021 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Massive upsets went down on the women's and men's sides of the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday in Indian Wells, California.
No. 2 Iga Swiatek, No. 3 Barbora Krejcikova and No. 4 Elina Svitolina all fell in the round of 16 in straight sets. No. 19 Jessica Pegula took down Swiatek, No. 21 Paula Badosa defeated Krejcikova and No. 24 Jelena Ostapenko earned the win over Svitolina.
No. 5 Matteo Berrettini is also going home after a straight-sets loss to No. 31 Taylor Fritz.
You can take a closer look at those four upsets below alongside a rundown of the day's scores.
Swiatek appeared to have control in the first set after going up a break and taking a 4-3 lead, but Ostapenko immediately broke back, held serve and won set point on a second break for the 6-4 win.
Undeterred, Swiatek broke Ostapenko to start the second set. Once again, though, the Latvian saved her best for last, winning the last four games and breaking her opponent twice for the win.
Ostapenko ended up saving 6-of-8 break points on the day.
The Spaniard needed just one half-hour to win the first set 6-1. She saved three break points along the way and won 13-of-17 first-serve points.
The second set was far more nervy, with each woman winning a pair of break points in the early going. Badosa earned a match point up 5-4 with Krejcikova serving, but the No. 3 seed held on.
Badosa then took total control, winning the final eight points of the match for the 7-5 second-set victory.
The 27-year-old only needed one hour and four minutes to defeat the No. 4 seed in Svitolina. She had 14 break-point opportunities to her opponent's zero, winning five.
Svitolina had a rough day serving, committing seven double faults. She only won 20-of-38 first-serve points.
On the other hand, Pegula was nearly flawless, winning 22-of-26 first-serve points. It was a sensational effort for the American, who is searching for her second career WTA singles title. Her first victory was at the 2019 Washington Open.
No. 31 Taylor Fritz def. No. 5 Matteo Berrettini: 6-4, 6-3
Fritz notched one of the biggest wins of his professional career in defeating Berrettini:
The 23-year-old looked like he would sleepwalk to the finish line in the first set after going up 5-1, but Berrettini had other plans. He broke his opponent twice and held his own serve to crawl back to 5-4.
At that point, the Italian was serving to even the match, but Fritz turned it up and won every point in the 10th game for the 6-4 set victory.
The second set was all Fritz, who earned an early break to go up 3-1 and had Berrettini on his heels the rest of the way.
The American nearly won the second set 6-2 after amassing four match points during Berrettini's serve, but the 25-year-old persevered and withstood the tough challenge to survive.
However, Fritz then held serve to earn the big win.
Novak Djokovic vs. Daniil Medvedev: Highlights, Comments, Stats and Prize Money
Sep 12, 2021
Russia's Daniil Medvedev celebrates a point Serbia's Novak Djokovic during their 2021 US Open Tennis tournament men's final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, on September 12, 2021. (Photo by Kena Betancur / AFP) (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic entered Sunday's U.S. Open championship having won 27 consecutive major tournament matches. He needed one more to complete the first men's calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969.
No. 2 Daniil Medvedev got in the way.
The Russian star knocked off Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to earn his first major title at 25 years old. The crowd tried to will Djokovic back into the match after he dropped the first two sets, but there was little the Serbian could do to overcome Medvedev's attack.
The new U.S. Open champ acknowledged as much in his postgame comments.
"First of all I want to say sorry for you the fans and Novak, because we all know what he was going for today," Medvedev said while accepting his trophy. "What you accomplished this year and throughout your career—I never said this to anybody but I'll say it right now, for me, you're the best tennis player in history."
That very well may be the case, but it wasn't on Sunday.
Medvedev lit into Djokovic with 16 aces, winning on 81 percent of his first serves, capturing four of eight break points and winning overall points 99-83. Djokovic, long considered one of the best returners in the sport, even lost on receiving points, 35-26. It was a dismantling of tennis' greatest star and led to Djokovic smashing his racket during a low point in the second set.
A teary-eyed Djokovic could only thank the fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium for giving him the strength to make it back to the final.
“I was thinking in both scenarios, kind of visualizing myself standing here in front of you guys and what would I say," Djokovic told the crowd. "I would like to say, tonight, even though I did not win the match my heart is filled with joy and I’m the happiest man alive because you guys made me feel very special. ... You guys touch my soul. I’ve never felt like this in New York."
And for Medvedev, he had an even stronger statement.
"If there is anyone who deserves the Grand Slam title right now, it’s you," Djokovic said. “You’ll be on this stage in the future again”
Before Medvedev exited he was handed the championship trophy and a check for $2.5 million. Djokovic walked away with $1.25 million as the runner-up.
Olympic Women's Tennis 2021: Semifinal Results, Scores and Reaction
Jul 29, 2021
Marketa Vondrousova, of the Czech Republic, plays Naomi Osaka, of Japan, during the third round of the tennis competition at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
In what has been a wild season of women's tennis, it comes as little surprise that some unexpected names have made their way to the final at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Proving she was no flash in the pan after upsetting No. 2 seed Naomi Osaka earlier in the tournament, unseeded Marketa Vondrousova beat another high seed in Elina Svitolina on Thursday.
Meanwhile, No. 9 Belinda Bencic outlasted No. 15 Elena Rybakina in a three-set semi to advance to the final as well.
Neither Roger Federer nor Stan Wawrinka played in the Olympics because of injury, meaning hopes weren't as high for Switzerland as they typically have been, but Bencic came through.
The other women's semifinal featured perhaps the biggest feel-good story of the draw, as unseeded Marketa Vondrousova looked to take down another big name in No. 4 Elina Svitolina.
Vondrousova put an early end to Osaka's tournament on the No. 2 seed's home court, and she ousted Svitolina as well.
The 22-year-old Vondrousova has had some success in the past, including reaching the French Open final in 2019, but she was considered an afterthought when the tournament started.
After all, she has just one career WTA singles title to her credit, and it came back in 2017.
None of that has mattered to Vondrousova, who is playing the best tennis of her career, as she steamrolled past one of the best players in the world 6-3, 6-1.
WTA Insider noted that Vondrousova is carrying on the Czech Republic's recent history of singles success at the Olympics:
Marketa Vondrousova is into the Gold Medal Match.
The 2019 Roland Garros finalist defeats Elina Svitolina 63 61 and will face Belinda Bencic for gold.
For the second consecutive #Olympics, the Czech Republic will have a spot on the singles podium. #Tokyo2020
Randy Walker of New Chapter Media pointed out that Vondrousova has a chance to become the most unlikely gold medalist in the history of women's tennis at the Olympics:
If Marketa Vondrousova wins the Olympic gold medal in women's singles she will be the lowest-ranked woman ever to do so. She is ranked No. 42 and Monica Puig was ranked No. 34 in 2016. pic.twitter.com/WxF9jLuuIL
That distinction presently belongs to Puerto Rico's Monica Puig, who won gold five years ago, but Vondrousova is ranked even lower than Puig was then.
To take gold, Vondrousova will be tasked with taking down yet another top-10 player in Bencic. However, Vondrousova has a 1-0 lead over Bencic in career meetings, beating her earlier this year at the Miami Open.
