In the very first Centre Court match of Marketa Vondrousova’s career, she earned history’s embrace at Wimbledon 2023. Watched from her player box by compatriot Jan Kodes, champion here 50 years ago, the world No.42 became the first unseeded woman to reach the final at the All England Club since 19-year-old Billie Jean Moffitt in 1963.

Coming into this Fortnight, the Slavic southpaw had just one match win to her name on the lawns of SW19, yet she now stands perhaps two sets away from the greatest prize in tennis.

With the roof closed on the legendary arena, Vondrousova’s cool display halted the fabulous odyssey of Ukrainian wild card Elina Svitolina, herself bidding for all kinds of landmark achievements. Briefly in the second set a Svitolina revival seemed possible, but Vondrousova fended it off to emerge the 6-3, 6-3 victor in 74 minutes.

“I didn’t play for six months last year,” said Vondrousova, reflecting on the wrist surgeries which made 2022 thoroughly miserable for her. “I’m so grateful to be here playing like this again. I cannot believe it.

“Elina is such a fighter and a great person. I was crazy nervous the whole match. I just had to stay focused and fight for every game.”

For every victor, another is vanquished, and Svitolina’s distress in defeat was written in her expression as she embraced Vondrousova. In one sense the Ukrainian has more important battles on her mind these days, although those very thoughts have fuelled her to wondrous achievements since her return from maternity leave just three months ago.

But her bid to become the first woman from her nation to reach a Grand Slam final fell just short, as Vondrousova’s increasing confidence and certainty of touch simply would not allow the world No.76 to find her own rhythm.

The runes were promising for Svitolina, who had won 13 of her last 15 matches. Only two other women had ever defeated four Grand Slam champions in a single major tournament – Serena Williams at the US Open of 1999 and Justine Henin at Roland-Garros six years later. Both went on to win the tournament.

But there are no inevitabilities in elite tennis. One day a wild card may win through to contest the Championship match for the Venus Rosewater Dish, but it will not be this year.

It didn’t take long for Vondrousova to find a way to break through, pushing her groundstrokes deep to carve out a hatful of break points before whipping a killer forehand to seal it at 3-2.

Unexpectedly she tripped over her own nerves in the next game, delivering a whole shopping list of errors – double-faulting twice, muffing an approach shot, and sending a forehand wide.

But it was as if Vondrousova simply gave herself a quick talking to, reminding herself how well she had played to secure that first break – and put in a repeat.

There was a very good reason why Vondrousova came into this match as the tournament’s best first serve returner; and even a baseline slip which left her sitting on the turf did not prove a problem.

The advantage was hers once again, and in this phase of the match Svitolina just could not find a way to damage her opponent. When Vondrousova captured the set with the double break, it gave her the bonus of serving first in the second chapter, and it was not an opportunity she was about to waste.

Svitolina seemed mentally spent, the exertions of all she has achieved this Fortnight as a mother and a Ukrainian suddenly catching up with her. Vondrousova was gaining strength with every stroke of the ball, mercilessly breaking the former world No.3 not once but twice, cruising towards victory.

Of all moments, this was when Svitolina found her touch, and with the crowd roaring her on she surged back to 3-4. But she could not sustain it.

By coincidence, these two contenders share the same wedding anniversary – 16 July, which falls the day after the ladies' final here. Each husband has remained at home so far this Fortnight. France’s former world No.6 Gael Monfils is in Monte Carlo with his and Svitolina’s nine-month old daughter, Skai, and Stepan Simek has been in the Czech Republic looking after Frankie the cat.

But while Svitolina will now be at home for her second wedding anniversary, Vondrousova's husband will surely wish to be with her in London one day ahead of their first. Who knows what else they may have to celebrate come this weekend?

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