Fan favorite Donna Vekić punched her ticket to the semifinals of the Philippine Women’s Open after defeating China’s Lin Zhu in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, in their quarterfinal clash on Thursday, January 29.
The World No. 72 Croatian leaned on her aggressive baseline play, firing sharp backhands and quick winners that repeatedly forced Zhu on the defensive.
Despite the ranking gap, the World No. 164 Chinese netter showed resilience, matching Vekić in several extended rallies and briefly disrupting her rhythm in the opening set.
Vekić steadied late in the first frame, breaking at a crucial moment to secure the 6-4 advantage. She carried that momentum into the second set, dictating pace with cleaner shot selection and improved court coverage.
Zhu attempted to mount a comeback with consistent returns and patient exchanges, but Vekić maintained control in key points, sealing the match in just two sets.
The Croatian drew loud support from the local crowd, with Filipino fans cheering after every big winner as she closed out the victory.
With the win, Vekić advances to the semifinals, moving one step closer to the title in her Philippine Women’s Open campaign.
