Relaxation not an option for Vekic at US Open: “I was more nervous than ever”

The Croatian had hoped she would be more relaxed after her superb runs at Wimbledon and the Olympics

Imago/Panoramic

August 27, 2024

After the best summer of her career, Donna Vekic thought she might have earned the chance to be a little more relaxed than usual as she entered the final Grand Slam event of the year.

Not a bit of it. The Croatian, who reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon and won the silver medal at the Paris Olympics, wore her heart on her sleeve as always, breathing deeply and getting herself through the tough moments as she booked her place in the second round.

“I was hoping I would be a little bit more relaxed, but none of that has happened,” Vekic told a small group of reporters after her 6-4, 6-4 win over Kim Birrell of Australia. “Maybe I’m more nervous than ever. But you know, first rounds the slam are always so tricky, so I’m happy to get past that. I don’t know (why) but I was really nervous out there, you know?

“I think I just kind of want to continue playing well, having good results. But nothing is, nothing is ever given, and everyone is playing good tennis, you know, okay, I’m see that now. But honestly, in women’s tennis, even in men’s tennis, it doesn’t mean that much anymore.”

Pride at silver medal from Olympics

Birrell had beaten Vekic in their only previous meeting, in Melbourne in 2019 so perhaps that’s where the nerves stemmed from.

The Croatian was good value for her win, though, maintaining the form she showed at Wimbledon and in Paris, when only an inspired Zheng Qinwen denied her a gold medal.

With such a crowded schedule, though, Vekic said she had not had any time to really digest her achievements in Paris. “I didn’t really even have time to process it,” she said. “Tennis never stops. You just kind of go from one tournament to another.

“But it’s something that I’m really going to take time after the season to enjoy. I’m really, really proud. It’s a great feeling and something I’ll have for the rest of my life.”

The medal clearly means a lot to Vekic, for it has accompanied her to the US Open. “It’s in the safe in the hotel,” she said. “I wasn’t going to leave that at home after just five days.”