Donna Vekic achieved a significant milestone in her tennis career by securing her first Grand Slam semifinal berth at Wimbledon. The 28-year-old Croatian, who has faced challenges due to injuries in recent years, displayed resilience and determination in her hard-fought victory over qualifier Lulu Sun. Vekic's triumph came after a grueling three-set match, where she overcame a slow start to emerge victorious with a scoreline of 5-7, 6-4, 6-1.
In an emotional on-court interview following her win, Vekic expressed her relief and satisfaction at reaching this career milestone. She acknowledged the physical and mental toll of the match, stating, 'I felt like I was dying out there, the first two sets. But I just kept going, hoping to have a chance and it came in the end.'
Vekic's achievement also marks a historic moment for Croatian tennis, as she becomes only the second woman from Croatia to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon, following in the footsteps of Mirjana Lucic's accomplishment in 1999. Her opponent, Lulu Sun, a 23-year-old player from New Zealand and a former college tennis standout at the University of Texas, put up a valiant fight in her Wimbledon debut, impressing Vekic with her skill and determination.
The match was a test of endurance and skill for both players, with Vekic commending Sun's performance, saying, 'It was a really tough match, she played unbelievable. She really pushed me to my limits.' Despite facing challenges, including multiple double faults while serving for the second set, Vekic managed to regroup and secure the crucial points to force a deciding set, which she ultimately dominated.
Looking ahead, Vekic's next opponent will be determined by the outcome of the match between No. 7 Jasmine Paolini and No. 19 Emma Navarro. As Vekic continues her Wimbledon journey, she remains focused and determined to build on her recent success and advance further in the tournament.
Meanwhile, on Centre Court, top seed Jannik Sinner faced off against No. 5 Daniil Medvedev in a highly anticipated rematch of the Australian Open final, where Sinner emerged victorious in a thrilling five-set battle to claim his first Grand Slam title.
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