{"id":1313,"date":"2026-08-22T16:28:32","date_gmt":"2026-08-22T14:28:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/beautyoftennis.com\/?p=1313"},"modified":"2026-08-22T16:28:32","modified_gmt":"2026-08-22T14:28:32","slug":"0078-donna-vekic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"beautyoftennis.com\/?p=1313","title":{"rendered":"#0078 donna vekic"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Donna Veki\u0107 \u2013 Overview<\/h3>\n\n

Donna Veki\u0107 (born 28 June 1996 in Osijek, Croatia) is a Croatian professional tennis player and Olympic silver medalist. A powerful right-handed baseliner with a two-handed backhand, she emerged internationally while still a teenager and developed into one of Croatia's most successful female players. Her career highlights include a Wimbledon semifinal in 2024, quarterfinals at the Australian Open and US Open, the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and five WTA singles titles. She reached a career-high singles ranking of world No. 17 in January 2025 and, after a difficult 2025 and early 2026, staged another remarkable comeback by winning the Queen's Club title in London in June 2026.<\/p>\n\n

Early Life and Tennis Development<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 was born into a sporting family in Osijek. Her father, Igor, was a football goalkeeper, while her mother, Brankica, competed in athletics as a hurdler. She began playing tennis at the age of six and quickly demonstrated exceptional competitive potential.<\/p>\n\n

Rather than spending an extended period in junior competition, Veki\u0107 moved rapidly into professional tournaments. Her development was unusually fast: by her mid-teens she was already winning ITF titles and competing successfully against experienced professionals.<\/p>\n\n

Teenage Breakthrough<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 attracted international attention at the 2012 Tashkent Open. Ranked outside the Top 100 and only 16 years old, she advanced through qualifying and reached the final of her first WTA main-draw tournament. She lost to Irina-Camelia Begu but became the youngest WTA finalist in several years.<\/p>\n\n

The performance accelerated her rise through the rankings. She entered the Top 100 and made her Grand Slam main-draw debut at the 2013 Australian Open, reaching the second round.<\/p>\n\n

First WTA Title<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 won her first WTA singles title at Kuala Lumpur in April 2014. She defeated top seed Dominika Cibulkov\u00e1 in a three-set final, becoming one of the youngest WTA champions of the period.<\/p>\n\n

Despite this early success, her development was not linear. Veki\u0107 subsequently experienced several seasons of inconsistent results and periods outside the Top 100 before establishing herself more securely on the main tour.<\/p>\n\n

Nottingham 2017<\/h3>\n\n

Her second WTA championship came on grass at Nottingham in 2017. Veki\u0107 defeated Johanna Konta in a dramatic three-set final, saving her strongest tennis for the decisive stages of the match.<\/p>\n\n

The victory was particularly important after several difficult seasons and helped restore her to the Top 50. Grass subsequently became one of the most productive surfaces of her career.<\/p>\n\n

Rise Toward the Top 20<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 produced increasingly consistent results during 2018 and 2019. She reached the Washington final in 2018 and made the fourth round of Wimbledon that year. In 2019 she reached finals in St. Petersburg and Nottingham and advanced deep into several major tournaments.<\/p>\n\n

Her progress culminated at the 2019 US Open, where she reached her first Grand Slam quarterfinal. After defeating Julia G\u00f6rges in the fourth round, saving a match point in the process, she lost to eventual finalist Belinda Bencic.<\/p>\n\n

These results carried Veki\u0107 into the world's Top 20 for the first time.<\/p>\n\n

US Open 2019<\/h3>\n\n

The 2019 US Open represented Veki\u0107's first major breakthrough at Grand Slam level. Her fourth-round victory over G\u00f6rges was particularly memorable because she recovered from a precarious position and saved match point before winning in three sets.<\/p>\n\n

Reaching the quarterfinals demonstrated that the talent visible during her teenage years was translating into sustained success at the highest level. It remained her best Grand Slam performance until the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.<\/p>\n\n

Knee Surgery and Difficult Comeback<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 underwent surgery on her right knee in February 2021 after struggling with persistent pain. The operation and subsequent rehabilitation interrupted her momentum and created one of the most difficult periods of her career.<\/p>\n\n

Her return was challenging, and Veki\u0107 later acknowledged that the physical and psychological difficulties following surgery led her to consider whether she wanted to continue playing professional tennis.<\/p>\n\n

Courmayeur 2021<\/h3>\n\n

Late in 2021 Veki\u0107 demonstrated that she could still compete at a high level by winning the Courmayeur Ladies Open in Italy. She completed the tournament without losing a set and defeated Clara Tauson in the final.<\/p>\n\n

It was her first WTA title in more than four years and an important milestone in her recovery from knee surgery.<\/p>\n\n

2022 Recovery<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 began 2022 ranked outside the Top 60 and spent much of the season rebuilding. Her most significant run came at the San Diego Open, where she advanced through qualifying and reached the final after defeating several highly ranked opponents, including Maria Sakkari, Karol\u00edna Pl\u00ed\u0161kov\u00e1, Aryna Sabalenka and Danielle Collins.<\/p>\n\n

Although she lost the final to Iga \u015awi\u0105tek, the tournament marked her return as a serious threat to the world's leading players.<\/p>\n\n

Australian Open 2023<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 began 2023 in excellent form and produced her best Australian Open result. She reached the quarterfinals after defeating players including Liudmila Samsonova and Linda Fruhvirtov\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n

Her run ended against eventual champion Aryna Sabalenka. The result equaled Veki\u0107's previous best Grand Slam performance and returned her to the world's Top 40.<\/p>\n\n

Monterrey 2023<\/h3>\n\n

Shortly after the Australian Open, Veki\u0107 won her fourth WTA singles championship at Monterrey. She defeated Caroline Garcia in a high-quality three-set final.<\/p>\n\n

The title was especially significant because Garcia was ranked inside the world's Top Five. Veki\u0107 returned to the Top 20 later in the season and also reached the final of the grass-court tournament in Berlin, losing to Petra Kvitov\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n

Wimbledon 2024<\/h3>\n\n

The greatest Grand Slam tournament of Veki\u0107's career came at Wimbledon in 2024. Entering the tournament after finishing runner-up in Bad Homburg, she defeated Wang Xiyu, Erika Andreeva, Dayana Yastremska, Paula Badosa and qualifier Lulu Sun to reach her first major semifinal.<\/p>\n\n

Her semifinal against Jasmine Paolini became one of the most dramatic matches of the tournament. Veki\u0107 won the opening set and came within two points of reaching the final before Paolini prevailed 2\u20136, 6\u20134, 7\u20136 after two hours and 51 minutes.<\/p>\n\n

It was the longest women's semifinal in Wimbledon history. Veki\u0107 became the second Croatian woman after Mirjana Lu\u010di\u0107-Baroni to reach a Wimbledon singles semifinal.<\/p>\n\n

Paris Olympics 2024<\/h3>\n\n

Only weeks after Wimbledon, Veki\u0107 produced another historic performance at the Paris Olympic Games. Representing Croatia on the clay courts of Roland Garros, she defeated Lucia Bronzetti, Bianca Andreescu and world No. 2 Coco Gauff before overcoming Marta Kostyuk in a dramatic quarterfinal.<\/p>\n\n

In the semifinal she defeated Anna Karol\u00edna Schmiedlov\u00e1 6\u20134, 6\u20130 to reach the gold-medal match. Zheng Qinwen defeated her 6\u20132, 6\u20133 in the final, leaving Veki\u0107 with the silver medal.<\/p>\n\n

The achievement made Veki\u0107 the first Croatian woman to win an Olympic singles tennis medal and became one of the defining accomplishments of her career.<\/p>\n\n

Career-High Ranking<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107's extraordinary 2024 season returned her to the Top 20. After reaching the fourth round of the 2025 Australian Open, she climbed to a career-high singles ranking of world No. 17 on 27 January 2025.<\/p>\n\n

The milestone was remarkable for its timing: Veki\u0107 had first reached a WTA final as a 16-year-old more than twelve years earlier and had survived several substantial interruptions and periods of declining form.<\/p>\n\n

2025 Season<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 was unable to maintain the extraordinary level of her 2024 season throughout 2025. Although she reached the fourth round of the Australian Open and recorded additional solid results at major WTA events, her ranking gradually declined.<\/p>\n\n

By the end of the season she had fallen considerably from her career-high position. The decline continued during the opening months of 2026, eventually taking her outside the Top 100.<\/p>\n\n

2026 Resurgence<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 began 2026 with encouraging results despite her falling ranking. She reached the final of the WTA 125 event in Manila and later produced a semifinal run in Linz after coming through qualifying. In May she reached another WTA 125 final in Istanbul.<\/p>\n\n

Her season changed dramatically on grass. At Queen's Club in London, Veki\u0107 again came through qualifying and then defeated Mika Stojsavljevi\u0107, Marie Bouzkov\u00e1, Karol\u00edna Pl\u00ed\u0161kov\u00e1 and Katie Boulter to reach the final.<\/p>\n\n

There she defeated Emma Raducanu 6\u20130, 7\u20136 to win the championship. The title was the fifth WTA singles trophy of her career and her first since Monterrey in 2023. It also represented another striking recovery after she had fallen outside the Top 100 only months earlier.<\/p>\n\n

2026 Ranking Recovery<\/h3>\n\n

The Queen's Club championship produced a substantial ranking recovery and returned Veki\u0107 comfortably inside the world's Top 50. By August 2026 she was ranked around No. 35 and had compiled approximately 25 tour-level victories during the season.<\/p>\n\n

Her subsequent grass-court results were less successful, with opening-round defeats in Berlin and Wimbledon, but the London title ensured that 2026 represented another significant comeback season.<\/p>\n\n

Grand Slam Record<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 has reached the latter stages of all four Grand Slam tournaments. Her finest result is the Wimbledon semifinal of 2024. She reached the Australian Open quarterfinals in 2023 and the US Open quarterfinals in 2019.<\/p>\n\n

At Roland Garros, traditionally the least natural major for her attacking game, her best performance is the fourth round in 2019. She has accumulated more than 50 Grand Slam singles victories during her career.<\/p>\n\n

Playing Style<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 is an aggressive right-handed baseline player with a two-handed backhand. At 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in), she possesses a powerful serve that can provide both direct points and opportunities to attack immediately with her first groundstroke.<\/p>\n\n

Her forehand is her principal offensive weapon. When playing confidently, Veki\u0107 attempts to dictate rallies early, using relatively flat and penetrating strokes to move opponents and create short balls.<\/p>\n\n

Her backhand is compact and reliable, while improved movement and defensive skills have made her a more complete player than during her teenage years. Her game is particularly effective on faster hard courts and grass.<\/p>\n\n

Grass-Court Strength<\/h3>\n\n

Grass has played a particularly important role in Veki\u0107's career. She reached her first WTA final on the surface in Birmingham in 2013, won Nottingham in 2017, finished runner-up there in 2019, reached the Berlin final in 2023, the Bad Homburg final and Wimbledon semifinal in 2024, and won Queen's Club in 2026.<\/p>\n\n

Her serve, relatively flat groundstrokes and willingness to take the ball early are naturally suited to lower-bouncing grass courts.<\/p>\n\n

Mental Development<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 has spoken openly about the psychological challenges of professional tennis. Having been identified as an exceptional prospect as a teenager, she spent many years dealing with expectations that her early success would quickly lead to major championships.<\/p>\n\n

In later years she described becoming more grounded and less devastated by individual defeats. That change in perspective coincided with some of the finest achievements of her career, particularly Wimbledon and the Olympic Games in 2024.<\/p>\n\n

Coaching<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 has worked with several prominent coaches during her career, including David Felgate, Torben Beltz and Sam Sumyk. Pam Shriver, the former Grand Slam doubles champion and singles star, also became an important part of her team as a consultant.<\/p>\n\n

Croatian coach Nikola Horvat has played a significant role in the later stages of her career, including the period surrounding her breakthrough Wimbledon and Olympic performances.<\/p>\n\n

Olympic Career<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 has represented Croatia at multiple Olympic Games. At Tokyo she reached the third round, producing a notable victory over Aryna Sabalenka.<\/p>\n\n

Her return at Paris 2024 surpassed that achievement dramatically. The silver medal made her an Olympic medalist and established a new benchmark for Croatian women's tennis.<\/p>\n\n

National Representation<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 has represented Croatia in the Billie Jean King Cup and other international team competitions throughout her career. As Croatia's highest-ranked female player for substantial periods, she has been an important figure in the country's national tennis program.<\/p>\n\n

Her Olympic silver medal carries particular national significance because it was the first Olympic medal won by a Croatian woman in singles tennis.<\/p>\n\n

Doubles Career<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107 has concentrated overwhelmingly on singles and has played relatively little doubles compared with many WTA players. Her career-high doubles ranking is world No. 171.<\/p>\n\n

She has not won a WTA doubles title, and doubles has generally been used selectively rather than forming a major part of her professional schedule.<\/p>\n\n

Business and Interests<\/h3>\n\n

Away from tennis, Veki\u0107 has developed interests in fashion and business. She launched the luxury home-fragrance brand DNNA, extending her activities beyond professional sport.<\/p>\n\n

She speaks Croatian, English and Italian and has described herself as strong-willed, determined and highly competitive. Her interests outside tennis have included fashion, travel and maintaining close relationships with family and friends.<\/p>\n\n

Career Highlights<\/h3>\n\n

\nBorn: 28 June 1996, Osijek, Croatia
\nNationality: Croatian
\nHeight: 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)
\nPlays: Right-handed, two-handed backhand
\nPreferred surface: Hard court
\nCareer-high singles ranking: No. 17 (27 January 2025)
\nCareer-high doubles ranking: No. 171
\nWTA singles titles: 5
\nWTA singles finals: 15
\nWTA titles: Kuala Lumpur (2014), Nottingham (2017), Courmayeur (2021), Monterrey (2023), Queen's Club\/London (2026)
\nBest Australian Open result: Quarterfinal (2023)
\nBest Roland Garros result: Fourth round (2019)
\nBest Wimbledon result: Semifinal (2024)
\nBest US Open result: Quarterfinal (2019)
\nOlympic Games: Tokyo 2020\/2021, Paris 2024
\nOlympic medal: Silver, women's singles (Paris 2024)
\nFirst Croatian woman to win an Olympic singles tennis medal
\n2024 Bad Homburg: Finalist
\n2026 Manila WTA 125: Finalist
\n2026 Istanbul WTA 125: Finalist
\n2026 Queen's Club: Champion
\n2026 ranking in August: Approximately No. 35
\nCareer prize money: More than $9 million
\nCurrent status: Active\n<\/p>\n\n

Career Trajectory<\/h3>\n\n

Veki\u0107's career is remarkable for the distance between her first breakthrough and her greatest achievements. She reached a WTA final at 16 and won her first title at 17, creating expectations of an immediate rise toward the elite. Instead, her progress unfolded across more than a decade of successes, setbacks, injuries and repeated recoveries.<\/p>\n\n

Her finest period arrived in her late twenties. Within a few weeks in 2024 she reached her first Grand Slam semifinal at Wimbledon and won an Olympic silver medal in Paris. The following January she achieved her career-high ranking of No. 17.<\/p>\n\n

Even that was not the final chapter. After falling outside the Top 100 in early 2026, Veki\u0107 again rebuilt her form and ranking, culminating in the Queen's Club championship and a return toward the Top 40.<\/p>\n\n

Assessment<\/h3>\n\n

Donna Veki\u0107's career demonstrates unusual resilience. Her early achievements suggested the straightforward trajectory of a teenage prodigy, but her actual career became much more complicated. Injuries, particularly the knee surgery of 2021, ranking declines and periods of uncertainty repeatedly interrupted her progress.<\/p>\n\n

The persistence eventually produced achievements greater than those of her teenage years. Her 2024 Wimbledon semifinal and Olympic silver medal transformed her career r\u00e9sum\u00e9, while reaching world No. 17 in 2025 established a new ranking peak more than twelve years after her first WTA final.<\/p>\n\n

Her 2026 Queen's Club title adds another distinctive chapter. Having fallen outside the Top 100, Veki\u0107 returned through qualifying to win one of the most important grass-court tournaments of the season. Five WTA titles, three Grand Slam quarterfinal-or-better performances, an Olympic silver medal and sustained success across more than a decade establish her as one of the most accomplished Croatian women's tennis players of the modern era.<\/p>\n

all texts by ChatGPT<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

alert, vulnerable, responsive. Donna Veki\u0107 \u2013 Overview Donna Veki\u0107 (born 28 June 1996 in Osijek, Croatia) is a Croatian professional tennis player and Olympic silver medalist. A powerful right-handed baseliner<\/p>\n

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