Croatia’s Donna Vekic Makes Historic Wimbledon Semifinal
Croatian tennis player Donna Vekic made history on Tuesday by rallying to reach her first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon. Vekic, 28, defeated New Zealand’s Lulu Sun in a hard-fought match that lasted 2 hours and 8 minutes.
The unseeded Vekic showed her resilience and determination throughout the match, ultimately winning 5-7, 6-4, 6-1. This victory at Wimbledon marks Vekic’s 10th win on grass this year, including a final appearance at Bad Homburg just two weeks ago.
Vekic’s journey to the semifinals at Wimbledon is particularly impressive given that this is her 43rd appearance in a Grand Slam main draw. In the Open Era, only four women have appeared in more majors before making their maiden semifinal.
After the match, Vekic expressed her pride in reaching this milestone in her career. She credited her hard work and the support of her team for helping her achieve this success.
During the match, Vekic showcased her strong serve, hitting 11 aces and a total of 32 winners. She also displayed her ability to stay focused under pressure, saving four of six break points and dominating the deciding set by winning all nine points when landing her first serve.
Vekic’s semifinal opponent will be No. 7 seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy. Paolini, 28, also had an impressive quarterfinal win over Emma Navarro, setting up an intriguing matchup between the two players.
Paolini currently leads the head-to-head record against Vekic 2-1, but this will be their first meeting on grass. The stage is set for an exciting semifinal showdown between these two talented players at Wimbledon.
Overall, Vekic’s historic run at Wimbledon is a testament to her skill, determination, and perseverance on the tennis court. As she prepares to face off against Paolini in the semifinals, tennis fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see if Vekic can continue her impressive performance and make her mark on the prestigious tournament.
