"This time next year you're going to be in a much better place": Vekic counted on support from Sakkari and Tomljanovic when considering tennis future

Wednesday, 21 June 2023 at 21:00

Donna Vekic revealed the support she received from Maria Sakkari and Ajla Tomljanovic when she contemplated quitting tennis.

The Croatian player has won four WTA titles, with her first coming at the 2014 Kuala Lumpur Open where she defeated Dominika Cibulkova, who was ranked No. 10 at the time. At just 17 years old and ranked 95th in the world, it was Vekic's third WTA final, establishing her as one of the promising talents in women's tennis.

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The following years were filled with ups and downs in Vekic's career, as she constantly dealt with injuries. Although she reached the top 20 in 2019, she has never achieved the consistency expected of her.

Vekic mentioned that the most challenging moment of her career was when she lost in the first round of the 2021 BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells to Astra Sharma, a player who came through qualifying. The poor form she displayed during those months made her consider retirement.

“I think it was two years ago in Indian Wells, when Indian Wells was played in October. I lost in the first round. I had been struggling a lot. I still had pain my knee. I saw Ajla and Maria after my match and I was like I just cannot keep doing this. I cannot keep playing at this level,” she said

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The Croatian has mentioned several times about her friendship with Ajla Tomljanovic and Maria Sakkari, and as she detailed on this occasion, they were a significant support that helped her not to quit tennis.

“I was really struggling that whole period. And that match was kind of like the lowest probably I've ever been. And you guys were like no, this time next year you're going to be in a much better place. Don't give up. Your tennis will come back. We know that you have the level and that helped me a lot,” Vekic added.

Donna Vekic has just achieved a great victory in the round of 16 at the Grass Court Championships in Berlin against the second seed Elena Rybakina. Vekic came back from a set down to defeat the world No. 3 and current Wimbledon champion.

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Donna Vekic on beating Elena Rybakina in Berlin: “She was serving unbelievable today. She’s definitely, maybe the best server on the women’s tour right now…” Kind words. ❤️

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3:34 PM · Jun 21, 2023

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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.

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