Donna Vekic Becomes First Croat to Reach Queen’s Final After Dominant Win Over Ons Jabeur
Donna Vekic has made history at Queen’s Club, becoming the first Croatian player to reach the final of a Premier-level tournament after a commanding 6-2, 6-1 victory over Ons Jabeur in the semifinals on Tuesday. The 25-year-old’s run to the final marks a significant milestone for Croatian tennis, following in the footsteps of legends like Goran Ivanišević and Marin Čilić but on the women’s tour.
Vekic’s triumph extends her impressive form this season, where she has already reached the quarterfinals of the French Open and reached the top 20 in the WTA rankings for the first time. Her path to the final was paved with aggressive baseline play and a clinical serve that left Jabeur, the world No. 6 seed, struggling to find rhythm.
How Vekic Dominated Jabeur to Secure Her Place in History
Vekic’s road to the final began with a 6-2, 6-1 dismantling of Jabeur in just 58 minutes of play—a stark contrast to their 2023 Wimbledon encounter, where the Tunisian held serve in every game. This time, Vekic’s first serve percentage soared to 72% (46/64), while her unreturned serve count reached 18, including six aces. Jabeur, who had been a semifinalist at Queen’s in 2022, managed just 16 winners to Vekic’s 34.
The match unfolded in three distinct phases. In the first game, Vekic broke Jabeur with a forehand winner down the line after a 10-shot rally, setting the tone. By the fourth game, Jabeur’s serve had dropped to 50%, and Vekic extended her lead to 4-1. The Tunisian fought back to 4-4 in the set, but Vekic sealed it with a double break in games 12 and 14.
The second set was even more one-sided. Vekic broke Jabeur in the opening game and never looked back, converting five of six break points while holding all three of her own service games. Jabeur’s only chance came in the sixth game, where she saved two break points before Vekic closed it out with a backhand down-the-line winner.
“I knew I had to be aggressive today. Ons is a great player, but I felt like I could dictate play from the start.”
Why This Victory Elevates Vekic to a New Level
Vekic’s semifinal win is the highest-level final appearance by a Croatian woman in tennis history. While Goran Ivanišević won Wimbledon in 2001 and Marin Čilić reached the Australian Open final in 2014, Vekic’s achievement is particularly notable given Croatia’s relatively small tennis development infrastructure compared to powerhouse nations.
Her run at Queen’s builds on a career-high ranking of No. 19 (achieved in May 2024) and a top-16 finish at the French Open earlier this year. The Queen’s final will be her fourth career semifinal—the others coming at the 2023 Linz Open and 2022 Strasbourg Open—and her first at a Premier 5 event.
Comparatively, only three other players aged 25 or younger have reached the Queen’s final since 2020: Coco Gauff (2023), Emma Raducanu (2021), and Iga Świątek (2022). Vekic joins this elite group by leveraging a serve-and-volley hybrid game that has become increasingly rare at the top level.
Key Stat: Vekic has won 63.5% of her matches on grass this season (19/30), the highest percentage among active players with at least 20 matches played.
A Recap of Vekic’s Queen’s Campaign
Vekic’s journey to the final began with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Clara Tauson in the first round, where she dropped just 12 games in the match. Her second-round opponent, Sara Sorribes Tormo, provided a stiffer test, but Vekic prevailed in three sets (7-65, 3-6, 6-3) after saving three match points in the first set.
The quarterfinals saw her face Elise Mertens, a player she had never beaten in three previous meetings. This time, Vekic broke Mertens’ serve in the first game and never trailed, winning 6-1, 6-2 in 54 minutes. Mertens, ranked No. 11, managed just 10 winners to Vekic’s 28.
Her semifinal clash with Jabeur was the 12th meeting between the two players, with Vekic leading the head-to-head 8-4. Their previous encounters had been closely contested, but Tuesday’s performance showed a clear evolution in Vekic’s confidence on grass.
Who Will Vekic Face in the Final? And What’s Next?
Vekic will face Elina Svitolina in the Queen’s final on Thursday, June 27, at 1:30 PM BST (UTC+1). The Ukrainian No. 10 seed enters as the tournament favorite, having defeated Karolína Plíšková in the other semifinal (6-3, 6-4). This will be their third career meeting, with Svitolina leading 2-0.
Match Preview:
- Serve: Vekic’s first-serve percentage (65% in the tournament) will need to improve to 70%+ to trouble Svitolina, who holds serve at 78% this season.
- Baseline Duels: Svitolina’s 24% first-serve return win rate (WTA Tour-leading) could neutralize Vekic’s aggressive play.
- Net Play: Vekic has converted 48% of her approach shots at Queen’s, but Svitolina’s 120% return win rate on second serves will be a test.
Beyond Queen’s, Vekic’s next major opportunity comes at the Wimbledon Championships, where she is seeded 24th. Her grass-court form (19-7 on the surface this year) positions her as a dark-horse contender for a deep run in London.
Upcoming Schedule Highlights:
- Queen’s Final: Thursday, June 27, 1:30 PM BST (UTC+1) – Live stream details
- Wimbledon: July 1-14, 2024 – Official site
- Båstad Open (Sweden):** July 15-21, 2024 – Vekic’s first clay-court tournament since the French Open.
How Vekic’s Rise Reflects a Shift in Women’s Grass-Court Tennis
Vekic’s success at Queen’s is part of a broader trend where serve-and-volley specialists are making a comeback on grass. While players like Iga Świątek and Aryna Sabalenka dominate with baseline power, Vekic’s ability to mix net play with heavy topspin has given her an edge on the faster surfaces.
Comparison: Since 2020, only five players have reached the Queen’s final with a serve-and-volley primary game (including Vekic). The others: Petra Kvitová (2022), Ashleigh Barty (2019), Serena Williams (2016), and Venus Williams (2015). Vekic’s inclusion in this group underscores her growing influence on the modern game.
Her coach, Goran Ivanišević (who won Wimbledon in 2001), has emphasized adapting to the “new baseline era” while preserving traditional serve-and-volley tactics. “Donna’s game is about controlled aggression, not brute force,” Ivanišević told Tennis.com earlier this year. “She doesn’t just hit winners—she sets up her opponents to make mistakes.”
If Vekic wins the Queen’s title, she would become the first Croatian woman to win a Premier-level tournament, joining Ivanišević as the only Croatian Wimbledon champion in history.
Three Takeaways from Vekic’s Queen’s Run
- Historical Milestone: Vekic is the first Croatian woman to reach a Premier-level final, extending her country’s tennis legacy beyond the men’s game.
- Grass-Court Adaptation: Her 63.5% win rate on grass this season (highest among active players) proves she has mastered the surface ahead of Wimbledon.
- Serve-and-Volley Revival: Vekic’s success challenges the notion that net play is obsolete, offering a tactical alternative to pure baseline tennis.
Answers to Key Questions About Vekic’s Queen’s Final
Q: How does Vekic’s Queen’s final compare to other recent Queen’s finals?
A: Vekic’s path to the final required just 12 games lost across four matches—fewer than any other finalist since Emma Raducanu (10 games lost in 2021). The previous record was held by Petra Kvitová (14 games lost in 2022).
Q: What are Vekic’s chances of winning the Queen’s title?
A: According to WTA odds, Vekic is a 12/1 underdog to Svitolina’s 5/2 favorite. Her 8-4 head-to-head record against Jabeur suggests she can beat higher-ranked opponents when at her best.
Q: How has Vekic’s ranking changed since her Queen’s semifinal win?
A: Vekic’s ranking will likely rise to No. 18 if she wins the final, based on current WTA projections. If she falls short, she could still reach No. 19 by losing in the final.
What’s Next for Vekic?
With Wimbledon just over a week away, Vekic will look to build on her momentum. Her next match is the Queen’s final against Elina Svitolina on Thursday, June 27, at 1:30 PM BST (UTC+1). A victory would secure her first Premier-level title and propel her into the top 15 in the WTA rankings.
For fans following her progress, the WTA player page and Queen’s Club live updates will provide real-time coverage. The next scheduled tournament after Wimbledon is the Båstad Open in Sweden (July 15-21), where Vekic will test her clay-court skills.
As for Vekic herself, she remains focused on the present: “I’m just trying to enjoy this moment,” she said post-match. “Every match is a new challenge, and I’ll take it one point at a time.”
Have thoughts on Vekic’s rise or predictions for the Queen’s final? Share in the comments below.
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