DistantNews
Support us
Donna Vekić: People think I live glamorously, but it's not easy. I wanted to give up everything.
🇭🇷 Croatia /Culture & Society

Donna Vekić: People think I live glamorously, but it's not easy. I wanted to give up everything.

From Večernji List · () Croatian

Translated from Croatian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • Croatian tennis player Donna Vekić discusses the sacrifices and challenges of a professional tennis career.
  • Vekić highlights the financial and time commitments required, dispelling the myth of a glamorous lifestyle.
  • She also reflects on her early career, family's sporting background, and her initiative to support young tennis players.

Croatian tennis player Donna Vekić, currently ranked 36th in the world, offers a candid look at the demanding reality behind her professional career. Far from the glamorous image often perceived, Vekić emphasizes the immense sacrifices and dedication required. "People think I live a glamorous life, but it's not easy," she stated, explaining that extensive travel and rigorous training schedules often leave little time for anything else.

People think I live a glamorous life, but it's not easy.

— Donna VekićDescribing the demanding reality of her professional tennis career.

Vekić detailed the significant financial and personal investment her family made in her early career, noting that the sport is expensive and initial training conditions were not ideal, often necessitating travel outside Croatia. Despite these challenges, she found motivation in her passion, achieving early success by winning tournaments as a teenager and securing her first WTA title at 17.

Her family's athletic background, with a father who was a football goalkeeper, a mother an athlete, and a grandmother a physical education teacher, naturally steered her towards sports. Vekić, who was a highly energetic child, tried gymnastics before discovering tennis by chance. She fondly recalls her mother and aunt's lasagna, a dish she learned to make herself as her visits home became less frequent.

There were many sacrifices, tennis is not a cheap sport so parents had to invest a lot of money. Without them, I wouldn't be here today.

— Donna VekićReflecting on the financial and familial support crucial to her tennis career.

Beyond her own career, Vekić is actively involved in nurturing the next generation of tennis talent. She initiated the First Slam tournament in her hometown of Osijek, an international event specifically for children under nine. This initiative underscores her commitment to developing tennis among the youngest players and using her experience to support aspiring athletes.

There were many sacrifices, tennis is not a cheap sport so parents had to invest a lot of money. Without them, I wouldn't be here today.

— Donna VekićReflecting on the financial and familial support crucial to her tennis career.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Večernji List in Croatian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog