Donna Vekić won silver at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024, the first major success for Croatian women's tennis

Donna Vekić, one of the most well-known Croatian tennis players, recently won a silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This is a historic moment for Croatian tennis as Donna is the first Croatian female tennis player to reach the finals of the women's singles at the Olympics. Although she lost in the final to Chinese player Qinwen Zheng, who is currently the world number seven, Donna's achievement remains a huge success for Croatian sport.

Throughout her journey to the finals, Donna shone, defeating many top opponents, including famous players such as Coco Gauff and Marta Kostyuk. Her victory over Gauff, the world number two, stands out as one of the key moments of the tournament. With this medal, Donna has further enriched Croatia's impressive collection of Olympic medals, which now totals six tennis medals, including bronze medals from Goran Ivanišević and Goran Prpić from 1992 and gold medals from Nikola Mektić and Mate Pavić from 2021.

This success comes after a very successful tennis season for Vekić, who earlier this year reached the semifinals of Wimbledon, becoming the first Croatian female tennis player to achieve this in the past 25 years. Donna's rise on the global stage in 2024 confirms her outstanding form and consistency in top performances, earning her respect not only in Croatia but also in international sports circles.

In addition to her sporting successes, Vekić is also known for her humanitarian work. She actively participates in numerous projects, including building free tennis courts in her hometown of Osijek, aiming to encourage young people to engage in sports. She also runs her own brand DNNA, which produces environmentally sustainable products, such as scented candles made from beeswax. This project is connected to her passion for nature and environmental protection, with proceeds from product sales being donated to the bee community in the Kopački Rit Nature Park.

Tourism and sports minister Tonči Glavina expressed pride on behalf of all of Croatia in Donna's success, highlighting how the government continues to invest in the development of sports infrastructure. This medal once again confirms the importance of continued government support for sports, as well as the significance of investing in talents like Donna Vekić, who through her work and achievements represent Croatia at the highest level.

Although the silver medal is the pinnacle of Vekić's career so far, new competitions and challenges lie ahead. Donna has already set her sights on future goals, including continuing her streak of successes in upcoming tournaments, while her fans eagerly await her new achievements.