Luck has not been on Marketa Vondrousova's side in recent months. After falling in the first round of her Wimbledon title defence against Jessica Buzas, just as she was setting her sights on the Olympic Games, and after winning silver in Tokyo, the Czech has announced that she will not be taking part in the Paris Olympics due to injury.

Through her social networks, Vondorusova revealed that her hand problems will prevent her from attending the Olympic Games. "I am very sorry, but for health reasons I will not participate in the Games. I was waiting until the last moment to be able to go at least to the doubles, but the problems in my hand won't let me go out on court," wrote the Czech.

The goal now is to recover for the rest of the season on the circuit, so the Czech has decided to continue her recovery ahead of the US Open, the last Grand Slam of the season where she defends the quarterfinals. "I'm concentrating now to be well for the US Open," she added. In this case, the silver medallist at Tokyo 2020 will be replaced by Katerina Siniakova.

A short break to come back stronger

Vondrousova is taking this decision with a view to recovering for the US Open, a difficult but wise decision that will help her to come back one hundred per cent recovered. It should be remembered that she is still one of the favourites and reigning champion of Wimbledon 2023. 

Her best ranking in singles is number 6 in the WTA, being the first unseeded woman to win the singles title. She was also runner-up at the 2019 French Open, where she became the first teenage finalist at a major in nearly a decade. Vondrousova has won two singles titles from six finals on the WTA Tour and a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Vondrousova was world junior No. 1 and won two major doubles titles. She had a quick breakthrough on the WTA Tour, winning the 2017 Ladies Open Biel Bienne at 17 in only the second singles event of her WTA Tour career. This helped her reach the top 100 of the WTA rankings before she turned 18. 

The tennis star also struggled with injuries early in her career, most notably missing the second half of the 2019 season shortly after her French Open final.

Her signature shot is the drop shot. She is one of the best returners on the tour, having led the tour in percentage of return games won and percentage of return points won in 2019 among all players with at least ten matches.