For decades, Czech women’s tennis has quietly produced world-class players, but the last 20 years have seen a transformation from potential to powerhouse. What began as a trickle of talent has now become a full-fledged wave; players from Czechoslovakia and the Czech Republic have collected 21 Grand Slam singles titles since the start of the Open Era. I n 2023 when Marketa Vondrousova was asked about the secret to their massive success, she said, among other reasons, “In Czech we have so many great players. We also support each other. It’s very nice to see.” But with the high intensity of tennis matches, sometimes that support transforms into something more volatile.

It was a brisk evening in Japan when Marketa Vondrousova found herself in an unexpected predicament. Facing compatr

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