Donna Vekic Reaches First Grand Slam Semifinal at Wimbledon

Wimbledon: In a thrilling display of resilience and determination, Donna Vekic secured her first Grand Slam semifinal berth at Wimbledon, marking a significant milestone in her career. The 28-year-old Croatian defeated qualifier Lulu Sun with scores of 5-7, 6-4, 6-1, making this her 43rd major tournament appearance.

Vekic’s victory propels her into the semifinals at the All England Club, becoming only the second woman from Croatia to achieve this feat since Mirjana Lucic in 1999. The match was a testament to Vekic’s persistence and skill, especially after overcoming a challenging first set.

Lulu Sun, a 23-year-old University of Texas alumna, made her Wimbledon debut this year and became the first New Zealander to reach the quarterfinals in the Open era. Sun’s journey to the quarterfinals was remarkable, showcasing her potential on the global stage.

The match saw Vekic commit five double-faults while serving for the second set at 5-3, allowing Sun to break back. However, Vekic quickly regained her composure, breaking Sun immediately and dominating the decisive third set.

Vekic is now set to face either the 7th seed Jasmine Paolini or the 19th seed Emma Navarro in the semifinal, a match eagerly anticipated by tennis enthusiasts.