Markéta Vondroušová vs McCartney Kessler

WTA Wimbledon – 1st Round
Markéta Vondroušová vs McCartney Kessler

🧠 Form & Context

• Markéta Vondroušová
  🏆 Redemption tour: The 2023 Wimbledon champion arrives unseeded after a poor 2024, but just captured the Berlin title with a masterclass campaign—her first trophy since SW19 two years ago.
  🌱 Grass queen again? Wins over Sabalenka, Keys, Jabeur, Shnaider and Wang to go 5–0 this swing, showing elite tactical form.
  🔄 Reinvented: After ending her 2024 season early post-Wimbledon, she’s healthy again—posting an 11–5 record in 2025 across surfaces.
  🎯 Wimbledon record: Despite the 2023 title, she’s 1–4 in other 1R matches here, including a 2024 upset loss to Bouzas Maneiro.


• McCartney Kessler
  🚀 Breakthrough year: Has won three titles in 2025—Hobart, Cleveland, and Nottingham—plus a WTA 500 final in Austin.
  🌾 Grass awakening: Entered the year 0–4 on grass, but now sits at 6–1 after a title run in Nottingham with wins over Haddad Maia, Boulter, and Yastremska.
  🆚 Elite encounters: Beat Gauff in Dubai, pushed Zheng to three sets—proven poise in high-stakes matches.
  📍 Slam learning curve: Lost to Sakkari in 2024 Wimbledon debut. Still looking for first Grand Slam main-draw win.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Both players arrive with confidence after grass-court titles, but their play styles offer a tactical contrast. Vondroušová’s lefty serve, unpredictable pace, and ability to reset points with drop shots and loopy spin make her a nightmare on quick turf—especially when her feel is locked in, as it was in Berlin.

Kessler’s game is built around control, compact technique, and forehand timing. While that has helped her excel on hard and now grass, she’s yet to solve the puzzle of truly elite variety-based players on the biggest stages.

The American could make inroads if Vondroušová starts sluggish—something she’s been prone to in Slam openers. But over the long haul, the Czech’s touch, movement, and grass pedigree should prove decisive.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Vondroušová in 2 tight sets – Kessler is gritty enough to push, but Vondroušová’s craft and recent level should carry her through cleanly.