Last Updated on July 14, 2023
Marketa Vondrousova, born on June 28, 1999, has been recognized as one of the brightest talents in the world of professional tennis. Born and raised in the Czech Republic, Markéta was a beacon in the tennis circuit from a young age. She has had an illustrious career, reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 14 as per the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) and becoming the first teenage major finalist in nearly a decade at the 2019 French Open. Her success extends to the Olympics too, where she clinched a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Vondrousova’s early rise to success was swift and notable. She quickly broke into the WTA Tour, winning the 2017 Ladies Open Biel Bienne at the tender age of 17 in only her second career WTA singles event. This significant victory catapulted her into the top 100 of the WTA rankings before she even turned 18. However, like many athletes, her journey was not without challenges. She dealt with injuries early on, which saw her miss the second half of the 2019 season, soon after her remarkable French Open final.
Markéta’s game is characterized by her exceptional skill in return games, as demonstrated by her leading the WTA Tour in percentage of return games won and return points won in 2019. A skilled tactician on the court, her signature drop shot is a testament to her craft. However, despite her meteoric rise and her evident skills, much of her success can be attributed to her formative years and the influence of her parents.
Marketa’s journey began early. At the age of 13, she debuted on the ITF Junior Circuit, winning both singles and doubles events in her first tournament, the Grade 5 San Michel International Tournament in Malta in April 2013. She also tasted victory at a higher-level Grade 4 singles event in Poland later that year and a separate Grade 2 doubles event in the Czech Republic. These initial victories set the stage for her future success in both singles and doubles categories.
Who Are Marketa Vondrousova Father And Mother?
Marketa Vondroušová was born into a family with a rich sports heritage. Her mother, Jindřiška Anderlová, was a professional volleyball player for SK Slavia Prague in the premier Czech league, Extraliga. Her father, David Vondrouš, was an amateur tennis player, which contributed to Vondroušová’s early interest in the sport. David introduced Marketa to the game when she was just four years old. Despite her parents’ divorce when she was only three years old, they both remained actively involved in her life, supporting her passion for tennis.
Marketa’s father played an especially crucial role in her development as a tennis player. He was not only her first coach but also her constant companion and cheerleader, accompanying her to tournaments and driving her commitment to the game. She recounts, “My parents didn’t want me to become a new Navrátilová, they wanted me to not have a lot of free time and not be able to invent silly things.”
A stepfather also came into Marketa’s life, a hockey coach who, along with her biological parents, helped shape her early career. His participation in her life was impactful, often accompanying Marketa to children’s and junior tournaments when her coach couldn’t. Marketa remembers her family celebrations warmly, sharing, “We celebrate Christmas together, first we wish at home with mom, and the same evening my sister and I split up and we each go to see our dad.”
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Marketa’s athletic prowess was not only nurtured by her parents but also inherited from her maternal grandfather, František Frk. He was a champion pentathlete, claiming the national championship in Czechoslovakia in 1935. This rich lineage of sporting talent clearly had a significant influence on Marketa’s development as a world-class athlete.
While her family was instrumental in her development, her coaches also played a vital role. Her coach, Jiri Hrebec is considered a significant influence on her career. Marketa recalls, “As a little girl, I had respect for him, because he seems very sharp and straight from the start. It was a leap for me to get someone like that who won three ATP tournaments in the 1970s and was in the Davis Cup final.”
Despite her success on the court, Marketa’s family maintained a balance in her life. They never pushed her to be on the court for hours every day, allowing her to train just twice a week until she was thirteen. They encouraged her to enjoy the game and not to be stressed or exhausted. Her family’s belief in maintaining a balance in her life contributed to her overall development as an athlete and as a person.
