Strýcová will start her career at the US Open in doubles with Vondroušová

Tennis Grand Slam Australian Open, doubles semi-finals, 23 January 2019 in Melbourne. The Czech couple Markéta Vondroušová (left) and Barbora Strýcová (right) in the match against the Australian-Chinese couple Samantha Stosurová, Zhang Shuai.

Prague – Tennis player Barbora Strýcová, who is saying goodbye to her career, will play doubles at the farewell US Open alongside this year's Wimbledon singles winner Markéta Vondroušová. The 37-year-old native of Pilsen, who on the other hand won the doubles competition this year at the All England Club, said this today at a press conference after losing in the 1st round of the WTA tournament in Prague to Ankita Raina from India. Thirteen years younger, Vondrousová will replace Taiwan's Xia Shu-wei, who will play with China's Wang Sin-yu and try to qualify for the Tournament of Champions with her.

Advertisement'; }

“It was my idea. She (Vondroušová) had of course already arranged with someone else,” said Strýcová. “I told her: Come try it, because I think it could be a nice story. And it worked,” added Strýcová.

Former world number one in doubles and winner of 32 doubles titles, Strýcová won this year's Wimbledon alongside Xia Shu-wei, with whom she repeated her triumph from 2019. However, the 37-year-old Taiwanese decided to play with Wang Sin-yü, with whom she won Roland Garros and has a chance to qualify for the Tournament of Champions. Strýcová no longer wants to intervene in it and plans to end her career after the US Open.

Strýcová already played with Vondroušová at the Australian Open four years ago, when they reached the semifinals. “There, we agreed two days in advance. One of our teammates then fell ill or was injured. We also played very well together,” recalled Strýcová.

“I'm really looking forward to it. It's a nice story , she is the winner of Wimbledon in singles, I am in doubles and we are playing my last tournament together. I am grateful that we will be playing together,” added Strýcová. The last Grand Slam tournament of the season will start in New York on August 28.