By Dwayne Ferreira
Donna Vekic has reached her first Grand Slam semifinal after 11 and a half years and 43 Grand Slam events, securing her place with a 5-7, 6-4, 6-1 victory over New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun. The match was a grueling contest, with Sun’s legs giving out in the third set. Despite hitting 11 aces and struggling with six double faults, including five in one game as she tried to serve out the second set, Vekic found her form in the deciding set to advance.
Vekic’s journey to the Wimbledon semifinals is particularly remarkable considering her recent struggles with injuries and a lack of motivation. She admitted that just over a month ago, she did not want to play tennis. However, her powerful style of play has propelled her to the best Grand Slam run of her career. Her victory over Sun sets up a semifinal clash against Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who defeated American 19th seed Emma Navarro in straight sets.
The upcoming semifinal match between Vekic and Paolini promises to be a compelling encounter, as both players have shown exceptional form at this year’s Wimbledon. Vekic’s resilience and newfound drive will be tested against Paolini, who has also made history by reaching her first Wimbledon semifinal. This match will determine who advances to the final, with both players aiming to continue their impressive runs and achieve a career-defining victory.
