US Open: Belinda Bencic beats Donna Vekic to reach semifinals

Donna Vekic (Photo credit: Mario Ćužić/HTS)

NEW YORK, 4 September 2019 –  Donna Vekic’s fantastic run at the US Open has ended on Wednesday at the hands of No. 13 seed Belinda Bencic from Switzerland. 

No. 23 seed Vekic bowed out today on Arthur Ashe Stadium, losing to Bencic in straight sets 7-6, 6-3. Today’s quarterfinal was the fourth meeting between the two friends and frequent hitting partners. Vekic’s only victory over Bencic came in the third round of the 2019 French Open.

Bencic, who was coming off the back of toppling world No. 1 and defending champion Naomi Osaka, was the first to have her serve broken in the match when a backhand unforced error gave Vekic a 5-4 lead. Vekic had the chance to serve out the first set but Bencic was able to break back immediately. Both players then held serve and the set would be decided in a tie-breaker which went Bencic’s way 7-5.

The key moment in the second set would come when scores were locked at 3-3 with Vekic to serve. Two unforced errors from the Croatian and a forehand winner from Bencic would give her three break points. A backhand error from Vekic at 0-40 gave the Swiss the break and a lead of 4-3. She would then hold serve to lead 5-3 before wrapping up the set and the match with another break.

It has been a fantastic ten days for the 23-year-old Croatian in New York as it was the first time that she had reached the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam.