NY, USA : Marketa Vondrousova said she suffered an acute stress reaction during a doping control incident in December, attributing her response to prolonged mental and physical strain.
The 2023 Wimbledon champion said she had reached a “breaking point” after months of dealing with injuries, pressure and sleep issues, which left her feeling “exhausted and fragile”.
The 26-year-old described the incident as a “serious intrusion into my privacy”, saying a doping control officer arrived at her home late in the evening requesting an immediate test.
“For a long time, I’ve been dealing with injury, constant pressure and ongoing sleep issues,” she wrote on Instagram. “It slowly wore me down more than I realised.”
Vondrousova added that years of online abuse had affected her sense of safety, and said her reaction at the time was driven by fear rather than any attempt to avoid testing.
Medical experts later confirmed she had suffered an acute stress reaction and generalised anxiety disorder, she said.
Vondrousova has not competed since the Adelaide International in January and withdrew from the Australian Open due to a shoulder injury, but is currently on the entry list for the Madrid Open starting later this month.
She also referenced fellow Czech player Petra Kvitova, who was injured in a knife attack at her home in 2016, saying such incidents have heightened concerns about personal safety.
“I’m trying to slowly find my way back — both on and off the court,” Vondrousova said, adding she is working to clear her name while prioritising her wellbeing.
