Donna Vekić Celebrated by Tennis Stars Following Queen's Club Championship Victory

Donna Vekić's incredible journey culminated in a stunning victory at the 2026 Queen's Club Championships, where she triumphed over British player Emma Raducanu in an exhilarating final. This win marked a significant milestone for the Croatian, ending her title drought and earning her accolades from the tennis community, including notable figures like Jessica Pegula and Chris Evert.

Vekić's path to the championship was anything but straightforward. Initially, she faced elimination after losing to Anna Blinkova in the final round of qualifying. However, a last-minute opportunity arose when Marta Kostyuk withdrew, allowing Vekić to enter the tournament as a lucky loser. She seized the chance, starting strong with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Mika Stojsavljevic, followed by a hard-fought 7-6(9), 6-3 win against Marie Bouzkova to advance to the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Vekić overcame Karolína Plíšková in a tense three-set match, securing her spot in the final with a score of 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. The final saw Vekić dominate the first set with a resounding 6-0, but Raducanu fought back to lead 5-2 in the second. Vekić displayed remarkable resilience, saving two set points and ultimately winning the match 6-0, 7-6(6), claiming her fifth title and first at the WTA 500 level since her Monterrey Open victory in 2023.

Reacting to Vekić's success, Jessica Pegula took to Instagram to express her excitement, writing, “She’s backkk congrats @donnavekic 👏🏻💎.” Other players, including Katie Boulter, Chris Evert, and Victoria Azarenka, also shared their admiration and congratulations. Evert praised Vekić's performance, stating, “great effort, Donna!❤️👍💪🏼,” while Azarenka added, “Idemo Donna ❤️❤️❤️.”

Post-match, Raducanu acknowledged Vekić's skill and perseverance, saying, “Donna played extremely well from the start to the finish. What a week for you, from qualifying all the way to the title.” Vekić now prepares to compete alongside Pegula at the Berlin Tennis Open, facing Alexandra Eala in her opening match, with a potential showdown against No. 2 seed Elena Rybakina looming in the second round.