"I spent more time on the beach than on the court": Donna Vekic expected to spend Dubai trip on holiday due to conditions prior to Sabalenka upset
WTA
Aryna Sabalenka came into Dubai full of smiles and ready for her first week back after winning the Australian Open, but that soon turned into a nightmare as Donna Vekic dumped her out in a 6-7, 6-3, 6-0 win in the second round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
Vekic bagelled her in the final set in little over half an hour as Sabalenka left soon after she got to Dubai. But the Croat herself who is always dangerous didn't expect any sort of run this week and told her coach that she was taking half a week off as holiday as the conditions don't suit her. But plans can always change.
“Told my coach that I'm taking this week as half holidays. I can tell you I spent more time on the beach than on the court. Maybe that's a good way going forward," said Vekic as per WTA.
“God, it's too fast for me here. I played two of the biggest hitters in the first two rounds. I'm playing Sorana next. It just keeps getting faster (laughter).”
“I don't know. The conditions here are tough for me, but here I am.”
"I know that I have a winning head-to-head. But she beat me in Australia last year in the quarterfinals. That one hurt quite a bit," she continued.
"It was quite tough to serve out there today. It was very windy. I think we were both breaking each other's serves a lot. She played amazingly well in the tiebreak. Had a great start of the second set. I think I got a bit lucky with that slice passing shot. That's tennis, things can turn around in one point. At all times I didn't give up. I didn't stop believing that I can win. I just kept fighting.
"Even second set I was just trying to go for it a bit more because she was definitely out-powering me in the important points in the first set. I was like, OK, if you want to have a chance of winning, you have to go for it more. I started also serving a bit better. I think her forehand broke down a couple of times.
"In tennis, I swear it's not over until it's over. Like I said, matches can turn around with one point. To be honest, I wasn't really thinking... These big leads don't mean nothing anymore. You just focus and play each game as if it's the last."
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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