Donna Vekic turned disappointment into opportunity at the Queen’s Club Championships after capitalising on her lucky loser status to reach the second round in London.
The Croatian had initially fallen short in qualifying but was handed a place in the main draw following the withdrawal of Marta Kostyuk due to injury. Vekic seized the opportunity with a composed 6-2, 6-3 victory over British teenager Mika Stojsavljevic.
Despite facing a talented home favourite, Vekic's experience proved decisive throughout the match. The former Wimbledon semi-finalist made a fast start, racing into a commanding lead in the opening set before maintaining control to take it 6-2. She continued to dictate play in the second set, breaking away midway through and never allowing her opponent a route back into the contest.
For Stojsavljevic, the defeat brought an end to another encouraging week during her breakthrough grass-court season. The 17-year-old recently enjoyed a strong run in Birmingham and continues to be regarded as one of Britain's most promising young talents.
Vekic's victory was particularly significant given her recent struggles. The Croatian has endured an inconsistent season and arrived at Queen's after failing to progress through qualifying. However, the unexpected opportunity provided a fresh start and she responded with a confident display.
The win also gives Vekic valuable momentum as the grass-court season gathers pace ahead of Wimbledon. A proven performer on the surface, she will now look to build on her opening-round success when she faces Czech player Marie Bouzkova for a place in the quarter-finals.
For Vekic, Queen's has already become a reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in tennis. After narrowly missing out in qualifying, she now has another chance to make a deep run on one of her favourite surfaces.
