As the lush green courts of Wimbledon beckon, the 2025 Championships, set to unfold from June 30 to July 13, promise a thrilling showdown, with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Coco Gauff leading the charge. Both players, yet to claim the Venus Rosewater Dish, are primed to chase their first SW19 title, but a resurgent force looms large. Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, has roared back into form, sending a chilling reminder to the top seeds that their title dreams face a serious challenge. Former American pro Sam Querrey, speaking on the *Nothing Major Show*, spotlighted Vondrousova’s grass-court prowess, warning, “She’s unreal on grass,” a statement that has fans and analysts buzzing about a potential upset at the All England Club.
Sabalenka, the Belarusian powerhouse, and Gauff, the American sensation, headline a stacked 2025 Wimbledon main-draw entry list featuring 12 Grand Slam champions and the entire top 99 in the WTA rankings. Sabalenka, a two-time semi-finalist (2021, 2023), missed last year’s tournament due to a shoulder injury but enters as a favorite, her 36-20 grass-court record and powerful game tailor-made for the surface. “I already have a flight booked to Mykonos,” she quipped after her French Open final loss to Gauff on June 7, 2025, signaling a brief respite before her Wimbledon campaign. Gauff, who burst onto the scene as a 15-year-old qualifier in 2019, has yet to advance past the fourth round at Wimbledon, her 24-11 grass record marred by a recent 6-3, 6-3 defeat to Xinyu Wang in Berlin’s Round of 16. “It was a tough one today, but I’m learning as I go,” Gauff posted on social media, her resolve undeterred.
Vondrousova’s resurgence, however, casts a shadow over their ambitions. The Czech left-hander, who underwent shoulder surgery in 2024, stormed to the Berlin title on June 22, defeating Wang 7-6(10), 4-6, 6-2 in a gripping final. Her 5-0 grass record this season and 20-14 career mark on the surface, coupled with her 2023 Wimbledon triumph, make her a formidable threat. Querrey, reflecting on her semi-final win over Sabalenka in Berlin, praised her grass-court mastery: “She knows how to play on the grass, lefty, which always makes it difficult.” Vondrousova’s 4-4 head-to-head with Sabalenka, including a 6-4, 6-4 Berlin upset, contrasts with her 0-3 record against Gauff, setting the stage for intriguing potential matchups.
The French Open final, where Gauff outlasted Sabalenka 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-4 in windy conditions, highlighted their rivalry’s intensity. Sabalenka’s 70 unforced errors compared to Gauff’s 30 underscored the American’s poise, though her post-match comments sparked controversy. “I think she won the match not because she played incredible, just because I made all those mistakes,” Sabalenka said, later apologizing for her “unprofessional” remarks. “I wrote to Coco afterward to make sure she knew she absolutely deserved to win,” she told Eurosport Germany, reflecting on her emotional lapse. Gauff, gracious in victory, responded, “I don’t agree with that. I’m here sitting here [with the trophy].” Her mental fortitude, praised by Querrey as “unreal,” shone through as she became the first American woman to win Roland Garros since Serena Williams in 2015.
Wimbledon’s unpredictable grass courts, now higher-bouncing and suiting Sabalenka’s power, offer both players a chance to break new ground. Gauff, inspired by her clay-court heroics, told *Good Morning America*, “I’m ready to get back and start training for Wimbledon and try to pull that off.” Yet, Vondrousova’s crafty left-handed game and grass-court pedigree loom large. “She’s won Wimbledon, so she’s a real danger,” Querrey emphasized. With other Grand Slam champions like Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and defending champion Barbora Krejcikova in the mix, the women’s draw is a minefield. Fans on social media are electric, with one tweeting, “Gauff vs. Vondrousova at Wimbledon? That’s must-watch!” As the Championships approach, Sabalenka and Gauff must navigate Vondrousova’s royal threat to claim their first Wimbledon crown.
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