Donna Vekic's Remarkable Wimbledon Breakthrough

New Zealand's qualifier Lula Sun's impressive Wimbledon run ended in the quarter-finals, losing to Croatia's Donna Vekic, who reached her first Grand Slam semi-final. Vekic overcame Sun's formidable game with a 5-7 6-4 6-1 victory, marking a significant milestone in her tennis career.

New Zealand's 123rd-ranked qualifier, Lula Sun, saw her extraordinary Wimbledon journey come to an end in the quarter-finals on a rainy Tuesday. Despite a valiant effort, Sun was defeated 5-7 6-4 6-1 by experienced Croatian player Donna Vekic.

Vekic's victory secured her place in her first Grand Slam semi-final, making her only the second Croatian woman to achieve this at Wimbledon, following Mirjana Lucic's 1999 accomplishment. The 28-year-old unseeded player faced challenges, with Sun saving three breakpoints and taking the first set with a precise drop shot.

Sun fought back by breaking Vekic's serve, but Vekic regained her composure, leveling the match with a crucial break. The momentum shifted in the third set when Vekic capitalized on a double fault by Sun, quickly securing a 5-0 lead and eventually winning the set, ending Sun's historic run.

(With inputs from agencies.)