Donna Vekic overcomes odds for Olympic Silver: “I thought in these conditions there was no way I could win a medal"
WTAMonday, 05 August 2024 at 07:00
Donna Vekic
admitted that she almost missed the Olympic Games due to physical discomfort
after her run at Wimbledon. The 28-year-old became the first Croatian woman to
win a medal in Olympic Games tennis.
The world
No. 21 seems to have rediscovered her best form this summer, grass-swinging. A
few weeks ago she was on the verge of dropping out of the top-50, but has been
performing well. She has won 14 of her last 17 matches, including a career-best
win over world No. 2 Coco Gauff.
Big summer for Vekic
The
Croatian reached the final in Bad Homburg just over a month ago, but lost to
Russian Diana Shnaider. It was only a prelude to what would be her best
performance in a Grand Slam when she reached the semifinals of Wimbledon a
couple of weeks later. In a tight match that was defined by details, she ended
up losing to Italian Jasmine Paolini in the third-set tie-break.
"After
Wimbledon semi-finals I had so much pain everywhere that I was debating going
to the Olympics because I thought, okay, in these conditions there’s no way I
can win a medal," the world No. 21 said. "I had pain in my arm, pain
in my ankle, I was sick."
"Everything
was happening all at once. When we came here, first our flight was
cancelled, we arrived late. Everything was going wrong. When we had our first
practice, I told my coach, I was coughing so bad I couldn’t hit two shots in a
row,” Vekic added.
Donna Vekic at 2024 Wimbledon.
"I was like, Nick, what are we doing here? And I told
him this yesterday and I was like, Jesus, one week later we have a medal. So
it’s been absolutely incredible, I’ve really given it [my] all. When you play
for your country it’s definitely a little bit more special so I’ve completely
given it 200 per cent."
The
Croatian was a surprise finalist at Paris 2024, eliminating players such as
Bianca Andreescu, Coco Gauff and Marta Kostyuk in the final. However, she ended
up losing in the final to Zheng Qinwen 2-6, 3-6. "I’m extremely proud and
happy to have won a medal for Croatia," Vekic claimed.
“It’s been
my lifelong dream and yesterday has been one of the happiest days of my life
and of course now I’m a little bit disappointed because I wanted gold but still
so happy and so proud."
"I
feel pretty good on court. I was really surprised - okay, Wimbledon I play well
on grass so that was not so surprising for me,” she commented. "But making
the finals on clay, I did not expect that, that’s for sure. Every time I was
winning the first couple of rounds, I was telling my coach, I cannot believe
the shots that I am making, how well I’m playing. It’s definitely a
little bit of a surprise."
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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