THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 7, 2024

Donna Vekic

Press Conference

D. VEKIC/P. Badosa

6-2, 1-6, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Donna, through to the quarterfinals. You must be feeling very good.

DONNA VEKIC: Yeah, feeling good. It's been a long day. Been here since 8 a.m. It's now 8 p.m. Tough match, really tough match. One of the toughest, for sure, in my career, just because it's fourth round of Wimbledon, a lot of rain delays.

Yeah, the tension was there.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What did you do in the rain delays? How tough was it to handle them? What do you do in between play?

DONNA VEKIC: There was three rain delays. Each one was very different. After the first one, I was up 5-2, 30-Love, so I was pretty relaxed.

The second one I was losing 5-1 in the second. I was freaking out. But I was in a way happy that it rained because she was really on a roll. She was playing so well.

Then in the third set, at 4-3, I was like, Okay, just stay focused, stay warm, be ready to go out there.

Q. You've had some good results on grass before. This is your first Wimbledon quarterfinal. What has been the key difference for you this year at The Championships?

DONNA VEKIC: I don't know. The only thing that's been different is I played the week before. I did really well in Bad Homburg. I made the final. I was not here the whole week what I usually do. That kind of brings up the tension a lot.

Last year I was playing really well, as well. I lost in the third round to Vondrousova who went on to win the title. That was pretty heartbreaking for me.

I feel good. I feel good on the grass. It suits my game. Hopefully I can keep winning.

Q. This is the second Grand Slam quarterfinal you've reached with Pam Shriver by your side. Can you talk about what she brings to your team? Did she say anything to you in the rain delays that helped you?

DONNA VEKIC: Actually, just before going out in the last rain delay, she said -- the first time we met it was plenty of rain delays in San Diego. She said, Just trust yourself on this one. You know how to deal with it.

It's been great having her in my team the last almost two years. She's an amazing person, amazing mentor. I'm really proud to have her in my team.

Q. At the end a lot of emotion for you. Obviously reaching a quarterfinal is a big deal. Where did the emotion initially come from? Is it the frustration of the day and you getting over the line or it's a bigger goal reached?

DONNA VEKIC: I guess a bit of both. For sure mostly because it's been such a long day. The stress has been building up since, yeah, I warmed up. So it was just also a big relief to finally get it done.

To win and make quarters at Wimbledon, I feel like I'm living my dream. So just really happy.

Q. What are your thoughts about a player that not that many people know that much about, Lulu, for your next opponent?

DONNA VEKIC: She's had an amazing run from quallies. Obviously she's playing great tennis. I don't know a lot about her.

I think the coaching team will be studying all night to try to get ready for the match on Tuesday. No one makes the quarterfinals of Wimbledon by accident. She's obviously playing great tennis. It will be a tough match.

Q. You come from a country with some great sporting stars of the past, Goran Ivanisevic. From a tennis perspective, do you ever allow your mind to go to a point to where maybe you might be that person lifting a trophy like this, maybe this week, maybe another time?

DONNA VEKIC: It's been my dream since I started playing tennis, a dream and in a way a goal, to win a Grand Slam. It's the reason why I play tennis, why I keep training and pushing myself every day.

If I believe, yes, of course I believe. I would not be here otherwise. But to win a Grand Slam, a lot of things have to happen. Hopefully one day it will for me.

Q. Completely different subject than your matches. What is it like to do press conferences in multiple languages? What is the challenge? How similar are the questions that you hear in your native language and in English?

DONNA VEKIC: Actually I find it a little bit easier to answer in English. I don't know why. Yeah, that's an interesting question. I thought you were going to ask something about football (smiling).

Yeah, no, it's different. No one from Croatia here today, so we only have English questions.

Q. Anything else you wanted to add about what is most interesting for you about doing press conferences in a couple of languages?

DONNA VEKIC: Maybe hopefully one day I can do them in French.

Q. Talking of Croatian Grand Slam winners, Iva Majoli has played a role in United Cup, Billie Jean King Cup captain. Can you talk about how important she's been as a Croatian role model for you.

DONNA VEKIC: I've known Iva since years. She's been around a long time. She's the only female player to win a Grand Slam in Croatia. She's been really supporting me from such a young age. She's a close family friend as well. It's great to have her in the team, as well.