Winning the 4^th WTA title in Monterrey already at the beginning of 2023, brings Vekic closely to the best tennis position in her career, undoubtedly proving that she is in her TOP shape.

"If the title hadn’t happened now, I believe it would happen soon," Donna points out confidently.

All this is happening after two years of handling knee and foot injury, an operation and the pain she was suffering from. She was also absent from playing for several months and she also had a premature attempt to return to the field before the rehabilitation ended up. Donna's desire to get back to the previous shape she had in 2019, when she was ranked the 19^th at the world ranking of TOP female tennis players, seemed unattainable. And now, she is away from that position less than 200 points and only 4 ranking positions - already at the beginning of the year.

The path from the 107^th ranking position, where Donna was last year at this time, to the 23^rd ranking place include so much:

- Maturation that comes with the age, and the experience which gives her more patience and perseverance - which Donna even proved at the end of the last year's season at the WTA 500 in San Diego, where she reached the very final by playing seven matches in just eight days (and was close to winning the 4^th WTA title).

- Wiser use of her talents and style adjustments in playing tennis.

- Maintaining the calmness and self-belief which she showed at this year's WTA 250 tournament in Monterrey, Mexico against Caroline Garcia (WR 5).

- Great effort and work for the past two years.

- Desire and strength she gained from her past defeats.

Great results at the very beginning of the year position Vekić next to the

TOP 10 female tennis players in the world

Until March 2023, Vekic played only four tournaments and already had 14 wins and only 2 losses. These results position her alongside Swiatek (WR 3), Pegula (WR 5), Gauff (WR 8) and Keys (19) by the same number of tournaments, and close to Caroline Garcia (WR 5) and Belinda Benčić (WR 9 ) who have so far only one more victory.

Furthermore, so far Donna didn’t manage to achieve at this period of the year such a great result in her entire tennis career. Not even in 2019, when she positioned herself in the 19^th place only in October.

Donna already achieved to play with the tennis elite (i.e. the TOP 10 tennis players in the world) by March of this year, and played in three quarter-finals (QF) – one at the Australian Open against A. Sabalenka (WR 2), the other in Linz against M. Sakkari (WR 7), and third at the victorious WTA 250 in Monterrey.

Thus, by the results achieved so far, Donna is currently the best Croatian tennis player in the world.

Playing at the WTA 250 Monterrey and winning the 4^th WTA title

From total 11 WTA finals that Donna played, the 4th WTA title she won in a very short period of time since the last one she won. The 10^th match played with Frenchwoman Caroline Garcia so far, resulted in Donna's 6^th victory, repeating the result from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

Two-and-a-half hour match ended up with the score 6:4, 3:6, 7:5 in Donna's favour. In a great match between top female tennis players, Donna saved even 14 break-balls out of 16, and she herself had 3 break-balls of her own which she all used.

"This was a crazy match, all until the end. Garcia played very well, she sent balls deep" - Donna praised her opponent.

Such an inspiration

Taking into account that due to a difficult period because of the pain and an attempt to get back in shape, and that she thought to end her tennis career a year ago, such a rapid rise after a lot of work and effort can only be the inspiration that athletes often bring.

"I am really very happy that I am currently playing without any major pain. And the fact that I have good results only shows how much I have worked these last two years" - concludes Donna Vekić.

Be inspired by Donna's successes and download VIBER STICKERS with Donna's motivational messages from the matches, and for all the latest news, follow her on social media account on Instagram Facebook or Twitter.

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A rapid rise – Donna Vekic wins the 4th WTA title at the beginning of the year

A quite unexpectedly expected success at the WTA 500 in San Diego, 2022

Not another Donna, not another candle