23 days ago
Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) against her four-year ban for refusing an anti-doping test.
The 27-year-old was handed the ban in June after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) charged her with denying a doping control officer entry to her home to conduct an out-of-competition test in December 2025.
Her suspension is due to end on 21 June 2030.
Cas confirmed to BBC Sport that it had received the appeal but said a hearing date had not yet been set.
Vondrousova, who in 2023 became the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women's singles ****** le, said in April that when she refused the test she was at "breaking point after months of physical and mental stress".
#wimbledon #vondrousova #sport
The 27-year-old was handed the ban in June after the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) charged her with denying a doping control officer entry to her home to conduct an out-of-competition test in December 2025.
Her suspension is due to end on 21 June 2030.
Cas confirmed to BBC Sport that it had received the appeal but said a hearing date had not yet been set.
Vondrousova, who in 2023 became the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women's singles ****** le, said in April that when she refused the test she was at "breaking point after months of physical and mental stress".
#wimbledon #vondrousova #sport
2 months ago
Linda Noskova is the latest in a long line of Czech women to win Wimbledon.
The 21-year-old Noskova recovered from a second-set meltdown in which she wasted five match points to overcome Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in an all-Czech final on Saturday for her first Grand Slam trophy.
When Noskova finally won it with a service winner on her sixth match point, she covered her face and dropped down to the grass on her back.
“It’s never easy to get the last point,” Noskova said. ”Karo, you really made me work for it.”
Noskova became the third Czech woman in four years to win the grass-court major, after Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024.
The 21-year-old Noskova recovered from a second-set meltdown in which she wasted five match points to overcome Karolina Muchova 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 in an all-Czech final on Saturday for her first Grand Slam trophy.
When Noskova finally won it with a service winner on her sixth match point, she covered her face and dropped down to the grass on her back.
“It’s never easy to get the last point,” Noskova said. ”Karo, you really made me work for it.”
Noskova became the third Czech woman in four years to win the grass-court major, after Marketa Vondrousova in 2023 and Barbora Krejcikova in 2024.
2 months ago
Czechia’s Karolina Muchova and Linda Noskova will face off in the 2026 Wimbledon Championships women’s singles final on Saturday, July 11.
Czechian women won two of the past three Wimbledon ******* les with Marketa Vondrousova and Barbora Krejcikova crowned champions in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
This country with a 2025 population of 10.84 million has produced a lineage of women who know how to play high level grass court tennis at Wimbledon.
MORE: 9 most unforgettable Wimbledon finals of all time
Martina Navratilova is the most successful Czech-born tennis player at Wimbledon, winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at Wimbledon multiple times from the late 1970s through 1990.
Czechian women won two of the past three Wimbledon ******* les with Marketa Vondrousova and Barbora Krejcikova crowned champions in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
This country with a 2025 population of 10.84 million has produced a lineage of women who know how to play high level grass court tennis at Wimbledon.
MORE: 9 most unforgettable Wimbledon finals of all time
Martina Navratilova is the most successful Czech-born tennis player at Wimbledon, winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at Wimbledon multiple times from the late 1970s through 1990.
2 months ago
LONDON (AP) — Karolina Muchova ended Coco Gauff's run at Wimbledon with a 6-2, 2-6, 7-6 (10) victory Friday that ended with a drama-filled tiebreaker, to become the fourth Czech woman in the last six years to reach the final of the grass-court Grand Slam.
It will be the ninth-ranked Muchova's second Grand Slam final after losing to Iga Swiatek in the 2023 French Open championship match.
Muchova could face another Czech player in Saturday's final, with Linda Noskova to play Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the other semifinal next on Centre Court.
The other Czech women in the Wimbledon final recently were: Karolina Pliskova (runner-up in 2021); Marketa Vondrousova (champion in 2023); and Barbora Krejcikova (champion in 2024).
For Gauff, it was still her most successful Wimbledon. Previously, the seventh-ranked American had gone only as far as the fourth round three times – including during her breakthrough run as a 15-year-old in 2019.
It will be the ninth-ranked Muchova's second Grand Slam final after losing to Iga Swiatek in the 2023 French Open championship match.
Muchova could face another Czech player in Saturday's final, with Linda Noskova to play Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the other semifinal next on Centre Court.
The other Czech women in the Wimbledon final recently were: Karolina Pliskova (runner-up in 2021); Marketa Vondrousova (champion in 2023); and Barbora Krejcikova (champion in 2024).
For Gauff, it was still her most successful Wimbledon. Previously, the seventh-ranked American had gone only as far as the fourth round three times – including during her breakthrough run as a 15-year-old in 2019.
2 months ago
THE ALL ENGLAND CLUB, London — Like so much in women's tennis, it all goes back to Martina Navratilova.
She was the first great female champion of the modern era from what is now called the Czech Republic. She won on the Wimbledon grass like no one has, before or since. Nine singles **** les, plus seven more in women's doubles and four in mixed doubles.
Navratilova defected from Czechoslovakia to the U.S. in 1975, but as she became the best player the sport had ever seen, the little girls in her birth country kept watching.
Navratilova spawned Hana Mandlíková, who led to Helena Suková and Jana Novotná and Petra Kvitová and Karolína Plíšková and Barbora Krejčíková and Markéta Vondroušová and Kateřina Siniaková, the world's top doubles player these days, who is also now on the cusp of the top 30 in singles. Suková was No. 1 in doubles and No. 4 in singles.
All of them won Grand Slam **** les or became the world No. 1. All except Plíšková, Suková and Siniaková won the Wimbledon singles **** le. Plíšková made the singles final in 2021; Siniaková has three Wimbledon women's doubles **** les, two with Krejčíková; Suková won the women's doubles four times and the mixed three times.
She was the first great female champion of the modern era from what is now called the Czech Republic. She won on the Wimbledon grass like no one has, before or since. Nine singles **** les, plus seven more in women's doubles and four in mixed doubles.
Navratilova defected from Czechoslovakia to the U.S. in 1975, but as she became the best player the sport had ever seen, the little girls in her birth country kept watching.
Navratilova spawned Hana Mandlíková, who led to Helena Suková and Jana Novotná and Petra Kvitová and Karolína Plíšková and Barbora Krejčíková and Markéta Vondroušová and Kateřina Siniaková, the world's top doubles player these days, who is also now on the cusp of the top 30 in singles. Suková was No. 1 in doubles and No. 4 in singles.
All of them won Grand Slam **** les or became the world No. 1. All except Plíšková, Suková and Siniaková won the Wimbledon singles **** le. Plíšková made the singles final in 2021; Siniaková has three Wimbledon women's doubles **** les, two with Krejčíková; Suková won the women's doubles four times and the mixed three times.
3 months ago
LONDON (AP) — Serena Williams took aim at tennis' anti-doping system on Sunday ahead of her Wimbledon return, calling the system “unprofessional” and “unreasonable.”
The 44-year-old Williams returned to the testing pool before she could announce her comeback to professional tennis and was asked Sunday about her experiences complying with the rules.
“It’s grueling. They changed the rules now. I didn’t know some of the rules. So apparently if you miss a test outside of your window, it still counts as missed. I’m like, I guess I can’t go pick up my kids,” said the seven-time Wimbledon champion, a mother of two. “It’s unprofessional. I hate it. I think it’s necessary, but I think a lot of the stuff, if I want to go places outside of my window, I should be able to go without having it count as a missed test.”
Williams’ first match at the grass-court Grand Slam since 2022 will take place Tuesday when she faces Maya Joint as part of her tennis comeback. She returned to the sport this month in a doubles match at the Queen’s Club grass-court tournament.
The anti-doping protocol was in the spotlight last week when Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, was suspended for four years for refusing an anti-doping test, the latest high-profile player sanctioned.
The 44-year-old Williams returned to the testing pool before she could announce her comeback to professional tennis and was asked Sunday about her experiences complying with the rules.
“It’s grueling. They changed the rules now. I didn’t know some of the rules. So apparently if you miss a test outside of your window, it still counts as missed. I’m like, I guess I can’t go pick up my kids,” said the seven-time Wimbledon champion, a mother of two. “It’s unprofessional. I hate it. I think it’s necessary, but I think a lot of the stuff, if I want to go places outside of my window, I should be able to go without having it count as a missed test.”
Williams’ first match at the grass-court Grand Slam since 2022 will take place Tuesday when she faces Maya Joint as part of her tennis comeback. She returned to the sport this month in a doubles match at the Queen’s Club grass-court tournament.
The anti-doping protocol was in the spotlight last week when Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, was suspended for four years for refusing an anti-doping test, the latest high-profile player sanctioned.
3 months ago
The only way ESPN should be moving Chris McKendry to play-by-play tennis coverage is if she wants to do it.
Otherwise, this effort to push her out of the host desk at the ESPN-covered Grand Slams is a mistake. It started at the Australian Open and is continuing into Wimbledon.
MORE: Facing a four year ban, Marketa Vondrousova is supported by her WTA peers
ESPN announced that Rece Davis will be sharing Wimbledon hosting duties with Malika Andrews. Davis excels at college football.
Andrews made her debut at the Australian Open and was late getting there because of her NBA duties. Davis will be immersed in college football this fall. Even if he does well at Wimbledon, his schedule may make it problemmatic for him to return to the job for ESPN's coverage of the US Open in August.
Otherwise, this effort to push her out of the host desk at the ESPN-covered Grand Slams is a mistake. It started at the Australian Open and is continuing into Wimbledon.
MORE: Facing a four year ban, Marketa Vondrousova is supported by her WTA peers
ESPN announced that Rece Davis will be sharing Wimbledon hosting duties with Malika Andrews. Davis excels at college football.
Andrews made her debut at the Australian Open and was late getting there because of her NBA duties. Davis will be immersed in college football this fall. Even if he does well at Wimbledon, his schedule may make it problemmatic for him to return to the job for ESPN's coverage of the US Open in August.
3 months ago
2023 Wimbledon singles champion Marketa Vondrousova has been suspended from tennis for four years for refusing an anti-doping test.
An independent tribunal concluded that there was “no compelling justification” for the 26-year-old Czech to have not submitted a sample when notified by a doping control officer, out of competition and at her home, on the night of December 3, 2025.
Vondrousova is not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any events organised or sanctioned by the ITF, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national ****** ociation until 21 June 2030.
International Tennis Integrity Agency (ATIA) chief Karen Moorhouse said: “We understand that the testing process is uncomfortable, and acknowledge that it is an additional burden for players whose jobs already come with a high level of pressure and scrutiny, but it is essential to protect fair competition.
“Unpredictable testing is an essential tool to protect clean sport.
An independent tribunal concluded that there was “no compelling justification” for the 26-year-old Czech to have not submitted a sample when notified by a doping control officer, out of competition and at her home, on the night of December 3, 2025.
Vondrousova is not allowed to play in, coach at, or attend any events organised or sanctioned by the ITF, WTA, ATP, the Grand Slams, or any national ****** ociation until 21 June 2030.
International Tennis Integrity Agency (ATIA) chief Karen Moorhouse said: “We understand that the testing process is uncomfortable, and acknowledge that it is an additional burden for players whose jobs already come with a high level of pressure and scrutiny, but it is essential to protect fair competition.
“Unpredictable testing is an essential tool to protect clean sport.
3 months ago
LONDON (AP) — Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova was suspended for four years on Monday for refusing an anti-doping test — even though the Czech player cited “mental stress” and fear when the testing agent “rang my door late at night without properly identifying themselves.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency made the announcement, saying that Vondrousova refused a test in December, and that the decision was reached by an independent tribunal.
Vondrousova, who won Wimbledon in 2023, reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 that year.
The 26-year-old Vondrousova detailed her reaction to the missed test in an Instagram post in April.
“It is very tough for me to talk about this, but I want to be transparent with you about my mental health,” Vondrousova said. “The recent doping control incident happened because I reached a breaking point after months of physical and mental stress.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency made the announcement, saying that Vondrousova refused a test in December, and that the decision was reached by an independent tribunal.
Vondrousova, who won Wimbledon in 2023, reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 that year.
The 26-year-old Vondrousova detailed her reaction to the missed test in an Instagram post in April.
“It is very tough for me to talk about this, but I want to be transparent with you about my mental health,” Vondrousova said. “The recent doping control incident happened because I reached a breaking point after months of physical and mental stress.”
3 months ago
Markéta Vondroušová stunned the tennis world in 2023 when she became the first unseeded woman to win Wimbledon. But the former Wimbledon champ now finds herself unable to compete for the next four years after refusing a drug test.
Vondroušová was suspended for four years by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on Monday after refusing to submit to a drug test, the agency announced.
The incident occurred in December, when a tester visited Vondroušová’s house. Vondroušová said the random visit caused an “acute stress reaction.” That, combined with Vondroušová being under heavy stress and fearing for her safety, resulted in the tennis star’s clouded judgement, leading her to refuse the test, she claimed in a statement in April.
Vondroušová claimed that the tester arrived outside the specific window Vondroušová was given and said the tester did not properly identify themselves.
The ITIA held a hearing in April and had an independent tribunal make a decision on Vondroušová’s punishment. The tribunal handed Vondroušová a four-year suspension.
Vondroušová was suspended for four years by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) on Monday after refusing to submit to a drug test, the agency announced.
The incident occurred in December, when a tester visited Vondroušová’s house. Vondroušová said the random visit caused an “acute stress reaction.” That, combined with Vondroušová being under heavy stress and fearing for her safety, resulted in the tennis star’s clouded judgement, leading her to refuse the test, she claimed in a statement in April.
Vondroušová claimed that the tester arrived outside the specific window Vondroušová was given and said the tester did not properly identify themselves.
The ITIA held a hearing in April and had an independent tribunal make a decision on Vondroušová’s punishment. The tribunal handed Vondroušová a four-year suspension.
3 months ago
Former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has been banned for four years for refusing an anti-doping test last year.
Vondrousova, 26, was charged by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after denying a doping control officer entry to her home to conduct the test in December 2025.
The Czech player said in April she feared for her safety when the officer called and said they failed to follow "protocol".
But a tribunal determined Vondrousova, who became the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women's singles ***** le in 2023, provided "no compelling justification" for refusing a test.
Vondrousova's suspension will end on 21 June 2030.
Vondrousova, 26, was charged by the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) after denying a doping control officer entry to her home to conduct the test in December 2025.
The Czech player said in April she feared for her safety when the officer called and said they failed to follow "protocol".
But a tribunal determined Vondrousova, who became the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women's singles ***** le in 2023, provided "no compelling justification" for refusing a test.
Vondrousova's suspension will end on 21 June 2030.
3 months ago
2023 Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova has been suspended for four years for refusing a drugs test.
Vondrousova, the former world No 6, refused a test by a doping control official in December 2025. She released a statement this April saying that she had suffered an “acute stress reaction” after the random visit, which had prevented her from thinking rationally.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which oversees tennis’ anti-doping policy, charged the Czech the same month.
It announced on Monday that an independent tribunal ruled Vondrousova’s evidence during the hearing offered “no compelling justification” for her refusal of the test, which occurred out of the testing window which each player has to provide the authorities for every day of the year. Players can additionally be tested outside of times when they submit their whereabouts to doping officials.
More follows
Vondrousova, the former world No 6, refused a test by a doping control official in December 2025. She released a statement this April saying that she had suffered an “acute stress reaction” after the random visit, which had prevented her from thinking rationally.
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), which oversees tennis’ anti-doping policy, charged the Czech the same month.
It announced on Monday that an independent tribunal ruled Vondrousova’s evidence during the hearing offered “no compelling justification” for her refusal of the test, which occurred out of the testing window which each player has to provide the authorities for every day of the year. Players can additionally be tested outside of times when they submit their whereabouts to doping officials.
More follows
