On the seventh day of Wimbledon, Donna Vekic achieved an outstanding victory, securing a place in the quarterfinals for the first time in her career at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament. The 28-year-old Croatian triumphed over Paula Badosa in a hard-fought match, ultimately winning 6-2, 1-6, 6-4.
The highlight of the match occurred during a tense 27-shot rally, which Vekic won with a remarkable crosscourt forehand. This victory earned her the prestigious Point of the Day accolade and was undoubtedly a pivotal moment in the match. Despite enduring three rain delays, both Vekic and Badosa demonstrated remarkable resilience and delivered an enthralling display of power tennis, especially during the final set.
Vekic expressed her elation, stating, “To win and reach the quarterfinals at Wimbledon, I feel like I’m living my dream. So I’m just really happy.” Her hard-earned success at Wimbledon marks her third Grand Slam quarterfinal appearance and notably her first outside of hardcourt, following her previous achievements at the 2019 US Open and 2023 Australian Open.
Reflecting on the grueling match, Vekic remarked, “It’s been a long day. Been here since 8 a.m. It’s now 8 p.m. Tough match, really tough match. One of the toughest, for sure, in my career, just because it’s the fourth round of Wimbledon, a lot of rain delays. Yeah, the tension was there.”
Ranked World No.37, the former Top 20 player has demonstrated her proficiency on grass throughout her career, clinching the 2017 Nottingham title on the surface and making appearances in four other grass-court finals. Her outstanding performance has solidified her as the top-ranked Croatian player.
Looking ahead, Vekic is poised to compete against the breakthrough qualifier Lulu Sun in the quarterfinals. Commenting on her upcoming opponent, Vekic acknowledged Sun’s remarkable journey to the elite eight, emphasizing, “She’s had an amazing run from qualies. Obviously, she’s playing great tennis. … No one makes the quarterfinals of Wimbledon by accident.”
For Vekic, the upcoming match against Sun presents an opportunity to advance to her first career Grand Slam semifinal and potentially beyond. The matchup is highly anticipated and is expected to be a thrilling showdown between two formidable competitors.
In conclusion, Donna Vekic’s remarkable triumph at Wimbledon has undoubtedly been a defining moment in her career, propelling her to new heights and garnering well-deserved recognition for her exceptional talent and unwavering determination.