In a gut-wrenching turn of events, tennis star Donna Vekic faced a devastating defeat at the Stuttgart Open, succumbing to tears as she grappled with both physical and emotional turmoil on the court. The Croatian player, ranked World No. 20, was left shattered after being bested by compatriot Jana Fett, who is positioned at No. 127 and fought her way up from the qualifying rounds to clinch a remarkable victory.

Vekic, known for her resilience in the face of injuries throughout her career, found herself overwhelmed by emotions as she faltered against Fett, ultimately losing the match 7-6(2), 6-4. The 29-year-old athlete, who has battled persistent physical setbacks and once contemplated early retirement, has been grappling with a challenging season in 2025, marked by a disappointing 5-10 record.

Despite initially taking the lead in the match with a 4-1 advantage in the first set, Vekic struggled to maintain her momentum as Fett staged a fierce comeback, ultimately dominating the tiebreak. The intensity only heightened in the second set, with both players experiencing multiple breaks of serve in a nail-biting exchange of points.

Amidst the competitive turmoil, Vekic’s distress was palpable as she called for a medical timeout while trailing at 1-2 in the second set, visibly emotional and in tears as doctors attended to her. Despite her valiant efforts to continue the match, Vekic faced successive breaks, conceding a 5-1 lead to Fett before ultimately falling short in her bid for victory.

This poignant defeat marks Vekic’s first clay-court appearance since the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where she delivered a stellar performance culminating in a finals appearance. While her journey at the Stuttgart Open may have ended in heartbreak, qualifier Jana Fett’s triumph underscores the unpredictable nature of tennis as she advances to face world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the next round, setting the stage for a thrilling showdown on the courts.