'Life can turn fast' - Vekic into Wimbledon semi-finals

Wimbledon semi-finalist Donna Vekic says she "did not want to play tennis" small complete a period agone - but now she is celebrating nan champion Grand Slam tally of her career.

Croatia's Vekic, 28, moved into nan past 4 by ending New Zealand qualifier Lulu Sun's dream tally pinch a 5-7 6-4 6-1 win.

Vekic's powerful marque of tennis has teed up a gathering pinch Italian seventh seed Jasmine Paolini, who won 6-2 6-1 against American 19th seed Emma Navarro, for a spot successful nan Wimbledon final.

Vekic has struggled pinch injuries and, speaking aft her quarter-final triumph connected Tuesday, revealed she threatened to extremity playing earlier May's French Open.

"I didn't person immoderate energy, immoderate information to support practising and support pushing," said Vekic, who is classed 37th successful nan world.

"I felt for illustration nan past mates months I'd fixed everything for tennis and I wasn't getting nan results that I benignant of expected.

"It was a very, very reliable moment."

Under nan Court One roof, Vekic fought backmost against Sun to proceed her unthinkable turnaround and shape connected nan writer courts.

After she was convinced by her squad to play astatine Roland Garros, Vekic moved into nan 3rd information earlier relinquishing a lead and losing agonisingly to Serb qualifier Olga Danilovic.

Vekic, who almost retired because of a knee wounded 3 years ago, reached nan Bad Homburg last earlier heading to Wimbledon.

"It's crazy really successful tennis things tin move truthful fast," she said.

"I deliberation not conscionable successful tennis, successful life things tin move beautiful fast.

"That nonaccomplishment successful Paris was so, truthful painful. But it motivated maine again to support working, to support pushing."

Facing Sun, who hit Emma Raducanu successful nan erstwhile round, Vekic grounded to person 4 break points and past dropped service astatine 5-5 arsenic nan opener tilted successful her opponent's favour.

Vekic collapsed to spell up 5-3 successful nan 2nd group but concisely mislaid her confidence, double-faulting 3 times to manus Sun a break back.

Buoyed by nan crowd, Vekic quickly recovered and levelled nan lucifer pinch a sublime driblet shot.

She rode her momentum from there, dominating nan decider.

Vekic, who has 22-time Grand Slam doubles victor Pam Shriver successful her coaching team, is nan past unseeded subordinate near successful nan women's draw.

As Vekic advances, Sun's conclusion intends Wimbledon's hold for a qualifier to go champion successful nan Open era continues.

Raducanu is nan only qualifier to person won a Grand Slam title successful nan Open era, doing truthful erstwhile she triumphed astatine nan 2021 US Open.