Donna Vekic Resurgent: From Doubt to Wimbledon Semifinals

Donna Vekic, Wimbledon semi-finalist, reflects on a recent period where she nearly quit tennis but now celebrates her best Grand Slam run ever. The 28-year-old Croatian overcame New Zealand’s Lulu Sun in a hard-fought battle, winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 to advance to the semi-finals. Donna Vekic, ranked 37th globally, had struggled with injuries and lost motivation before the French Open in May, where she was convinced by her team to continue playing.

Her resilience paid off as she reached the third round at Roland Garros and then moved on to the Bad Homburg final before making her impressive Wimbledon run. Despite setbacks, including a painful loss at Roland Garros, Vekic found renewed determination, driven by her passion for the sport and the support of her team, including coach Pam Shriver.

In another quarter-final match, Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini delivered a dominant performance, defeating American 19th seed Emma Navarro 6-2, 6-1 in just 58 minutes. Paolini, who reached the French Open final recently, showcased her prowess on grass courts, breaking Navarro’s serve multiple times to secure a swift victory.

As Vekic continues her unexpected journey at Wimbledon, she remains the sole unseeded player left in the women’s draw, defying expectations with each match. Paolini, on the other hand, has swiftly risen through the ranks at Wimbledon, positioning herself as a formidable contender for the title.

The women’s draw at Wimbledon continues to surprise, highlighting the unpredictable nature of tennis where players like Vekic and Paolini prove that perseverance and determination can lead to remarkable achievements on the court.