Donna Vekić: Winning a Grand Slam requires luck

Croatian tennis star Donna Vekić is reflecting on a period of contrasting fortunes, marked by a significant career triumph followed by a disheartening Grand Slam exit. Fresh off winning her most prestigious WTA Tour title at the Queen's Club, Vekić faced a disappointing first-round loss at Wimbledon to American qualifier Ashlyn Krueger.

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The past year wasn't as I wanted, as I expected. And that I managed to come back and win Queen's after that is also a big result.

"The past year wasn't as I wanted, as I expected. And that I managed to come back and win Queen's after that is also a big result," Vekić stated, acknowledging the challenges she overcame. The victory at Queen's, however, was quickly followed by a demanding schedule, leaving little time for celebration before heading to Berlin and then Wimbledon.

"That Queen's had to be forgotten quite quickly, I didn't even have time to celebrate it. Performances in Berlin and Wimbledon followed, where my first-round loss was quite difficult to bear," she admitted. Vekić revealed that the Wimbledon defeat was particularly tough given her recent success and preparation. "Wimbledon is always a special story and it breaks my heart every year, but I come back next year. It was especially hard because I won Queen's and had such good preparation a week before."

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That Queen's had to be forgotten quite quickly, I didn't even have time to celebrate it. Performances in Berlin and Wimbledon followed, where my first-round loss was quite difficult to bear.

Vekić explained that her Wimbledon campaign almost didn't happen. She fell ill before the qualifying rounds and only secured a spot in the main draw as a "lucky loser" after another player withdrew. "I knew I was first on the 'lucky loser' list and just prayed that no one would withdraw on Monday, because I spent almost the entire day in bed. On Tuesday, I felt better, but I had no expectations. I was much more relaxed, which is actually the key for me. When I put pressure on myself, then it's difficult."

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Wimbledon is always a special story and it breaks my heart every year, but I come back next year. It was especially hard because I won Queen's and had such good preparation a week before.

Despite the Wimbledon setback, Vekić looks back at her career-best Grand Slam performance two years ago at Wimbledon, where she reached the semifinals. She narrowly missed the final, losing a deciding tie-break 10-8 after holding match points. This experience, along with the recent Queen's victory, underscores her potential and resilience on the court.

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I was much more relaxed, which is actually the key for me. When I put pressure on myself, then it's difficult.