Elina Svitolina co-designs Wimbledon-inspired capsule collection with Ukrainian designer Svitlana Bevza

Vekic debuted her first French-inspired Donna Sport ensemble in Paris en route to a decisive win over Dayana Yastremska, and talked dinner with Borna Coric in press.

ByDavid Kane

Published May 29, 2023

MATCH POINT: I.Swiatek def. D.Vekic; Rome 4R

FLASHBACK: Vekic credits a fourth-round run in Rome with helping her prepare for Roland Garros.

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PARIS—Donna Vekic showed how well she can slide at Roland Garros on Monday, but if she falls down in her clay-colored Donna Sport ensemble, fans may not be able to find her!

“I really like the colors,” she said of the latest addition to her eponymous on-court fashion line. “I hope I don't blend in too much with the clay! But yeah, it's a nice color. It's very classic.”

Accented by a more traditional navy, Vekic rode the sartorial wave to an impressive win over Dayana Yastremska, 6-2, 7-5—tentatively earning a return to the Top 20 for the first time since 2020.

Vekic refused to blend in on her return to Roland Garros.

“I think it's just where I am in my career,” she said of her high expectations coming into her 11th(!) Roland Garros. “I had the same in Australia, and I was not ranked as high as I am now, but these are the most important tournaments for me.

“It's tough for me to be 100 percent fit and healthy throughout the whole year, so I try to time it for the Slams to make sure I have enough time off, I have enough preparation.

“Today was a little bit easier to handle the nerves. I was expecting a bit more because the same thing happened to me in Australia. I was completely frozen out there in the first round! I was kind of expecting that today.”

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Unlike her Melbourne marathon against Oksana Selekhmeteva, Vekic endured only a minor blip in the second set as Yastremska charged back from a break down—perhaps due to keeping things lowkey off the court.

“Actually, this week we are staying in an apartment, so I haven't actually been out to eat, not once, but have been more staying at home and cooking, but not too much.

“The recipe to success, I don't know! I hope I will find out these two weeks.”

Among her pre-tournament highlights? Practicing with Caroline Wozniacki, and dinner with Borna Coric.

“Borna came over a couple of times, so I cooked him salmon. “Yeah, we were just taking it a bit easier the last couple of days, but I'll go out to dinner tonight!”

Maybe the Queen of Candles will celebrate with a crepe after the second round against Bernarda Pera.