Entertainment

How Donna Vekić defied injury and surface struggles to take tennis silver

Published

3 days ago

October 30, 2025

Earnings

Croatia’s women’s singles medallist speaks to Olympics.com a year on from her historic podium finish at Paris 2024.

Donna Vekić has two special souvenirs from Paris 2024: her Olympic silver medal, and her scrunchie.

The Croatian tennis player had to overcome countless hurdles in the buildup to last year’s Olympic Games, suffering from so much physical discomfort that she contemplated pulling out.

Vekić candidly remembers her illness in the buildup to Paris, where she endured pain in both her arm and ankle. Even her initial flight to the French capital was cancelled, which delayed preparations for the tournament and being able to adapt to the clay.

Despite everything, the 13^th seed reached the gold medal match at Roland-Garros, coming away with the silver medal after defeat to Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen.

“I have the scrunchie that I wore in the final,” Vekić tells Olympics.com of her keepsakes from her successful Games a year ago. “That’s the first thing that comes to my mind. I have a lot of merchandise at home from Paris.”

“That was the most incredible week of my life, the best achievement of my career by far. Staying in the [Olympic] Village with all the other athletes, having my family there in the semis and finals, it was really special.”

Both the medal and scrunchie sit proudly in her apartment in Monte Carlo, with little proving more meaningful to the 29-year-old than the Olympic silver, Croatia’s first medal in Olympic women’s singles tennis history.

Donna Vekić, adapting to clay for Olympic silver

Sport has always been in Vekić’s blood, born to a football-playing father and a hurdler mother, she hit a tennis ball for the first time at the age of six.

With four WTA career titles, the Osijek native had never reached a final on clay before Paris 2024. By her own admission, she is not fond of the red surface – “I’m not the biggest fan of clay, so it always feels good coming back on grass,” she admits.

Arriving in Paris after a maiden Grand Slam semi-final appearance at Wimbledon 2024, Vekić had only once made it into the second week of the clay major at Roland-Garros, where Olympic tennis was held.

Vekić explains, “After having such a good run at Wimbledon I had a lot of confidence going to the Olympics. I was very tired and not thinking too much, just playing my game. Every time before the clay season starts, I always [ask], ‘Okay, what can I change, what can I add?’, I’m overthinking and then I lose my head a little bit.”

Then suddenly, everything clicked. The Croatian overcame former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu before stunning second seed and another Grand Slam winner in Coco Gauff in the third round. Though played on Court Philippe-Chatrier, this was not an extension of the French Open by any means.

“The conditions were a little bit different than Roland-Garros,” the silver medallist explains of how the clay conditions benefitted her. “It was a lot warmer, the balls were different, everything helped a little – and playing for your country it’s different as well.”

Vekić will be 32 by the time of the next Games in LA 2028, still three years away. “That’s very far, let’s see about LA,” she responds to the possibility of competing at a third Olympic Games, having debuted at Tokyo 2020 back in 2021.

She knows that she will be even more invested in her fashion endeavours by then, from the Olympic flame to her own flame. “I have my own brand of candles and diffusers,” she concludes, “I don’t have a lot of time for that, but it’s something I’ll definitely focus on after my career.”

Up Next

Jordan Spieth embroiled in controversy as golf fans claim new update is ’embarrassing for all concerned’

Don't Miss

Carlos Alcaraz: I try to frustrate Sinner to beat me—it’s something beautiful

Click to comment

Entertainment

Victoria Mboko beats Cristina Bucsa in Hong Kong to claim her second WTA title

Published

3 hours ago

November 2, 2025

Earnings

Canadian 19-year-old rising starVictoria Mboko overcame world number 68 Cristina Bucsa from Spain 7-5 6-7 (9-11) 6-2 in the Hong Kong final to claim the second WTA title of her career.

Mboko converted her second break point in the sixth game to open up a 5-2 lead in the first set. Bucsa broke straight back at 15 in the ninth game to draw level to 5-5 after Mboko wasted three set points across the eighth and tenth games.

Mboko served out the 11^th game with hold at 15 before breaking serve in the 12^th game to close out the first set 7-5.

Mboko broke in the second game of the second set and held serve at love to open up a 3-0 lead. Bucsa broke back in the fifth game and held serve in the next game to draw level to 3-3. Bucsa earned her second break in the 11th game, but she failed to serve out for the second set in the 12^th game, as Mboko broke straight back to draw level to 6-6. Mboko missed a championships point at 8-7 before Bucsa converted her fourth set point to force the match to the decider.

Mboko earned two breaks in the first and seventh games to close out a one-sided third set 6-2 on the third match point in the eighth game.

Last August Mboko won her first WTA 1000 title at the Canadian Open in Montreal. The Canadian player is set to break inside the top 20 for the first time in her career and reach a career-high by winning the WTA 250 title in Hong Kong.

Entertainment

Jannik Sinner ends Carlos Alcaraz’s reign, reclaims world no. 1 honor

Published

4 hours ago

November 2, 2025

Earnings

On Monday, Jannik Sinner will start his second stint on the ATP throne! The Italian claimed his fifth Masters 1000 crown in Paris, earning 1000 ATP points and dethroning his greatest rival, Carlos Alcaraz.

Jannik leads Carlos 250 ATP points on the latest ATP ranking list, although he has to defend 1500 points at the ATP Finals in Turin. The 24-year-old has won 2050 points since Beijing, including three titles.

His latest success came in the French capital following a flawless performance, having beaten five rivals in straight sets en route to the trophy, his 23rd in a career. Sinner did not think about the year-end no. 1 battle with Alcaraz.

However, his latest run keeps him in contention for the ultimate honor, his second in a row after a dominant display in 2024. Jannik will embrace his 66th world no. 1 week on Monday, moving closer to Stefan Edberg’s 72.

The San Candido native has won five ATP titles in 2025, including three notable ones. Sinner went back to the drawing board following the US Open title clash defeat to Alcaraz.

He brought his improvements to the Asian swing and extended his brilliant run on indoor courts to raise above all the rivals and conquer the ATP throne for the second time.

While not playing at his best physically, the Italian still endured all the efforts in Paris and became the fourth player to conquer a notable indoor event without losing a set.

Jannik dismantled injured Alexander Zverev in the semi-final and arranged the title clash against Felix Auger-Aliassime. The Canadian chased his first Masters 1000 crown and fought well in a 6-4, 7-6 defeat.

The Italian provided another indoor masterclass, serving well and maintaining the pressure on the other side. Sinner faced no break points and seized one of six opportunities on the return, missing a chance to move over the top earlier.

Jannik tamed his strokes nicely and forged the upper hand in the more advanced rallies. The Italian will take a well-deserved rest before heading to Turin, hoping to finish the season on a high note and claim another trophy.

Entertainment

Djokovic learns fate in new home as Sabalenka addresses behaviour

Published

1 day ago

November 1, 2025

Earnings

Express Sport brings you the latest tennis news from the Paris Masters.

We’re reaching the business end of the Paris Masters, as eight players become four in the French capital. Jannik Sinner is the overwhelming favourite to lift the trophy after Carlos Alcaraz was dumped out by Cameron Norrie in the Spaniard’s opening match. Norrie was then beaten by Valentin Vacherot, whose amazing 10-match winning streak at Masters 1000 level came to an end when he lost to Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Canadian star Auger-Aliassime will face Alexander Bublik in the semis. Bublik defeated Alex de Minaur, who is among those to have already qualified for the year-end ATP Finals. Sinner is through to his first Paris Masters semi-final after beating Ben Shelton. He’ll face defending champion Alexander Zverev, who survived a tough match against Daniil Medvedev.

Novak Djokovic is not involved in the Paris Masters, having decided to skip the event for the second year in a row, but he has learned his fate in the draw of next week’s ATP 250 in Athens. And over in Riyadh, the WTA Finals are about to get underway.