By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Sunday, January 12, 2025
Photo credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty
Donna Vekic carried concern and intensity onto court for her Australian Open opener.
Those elements and her booming forehand helped propel Vekic to her first win of the season.
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The 2024 Wimbledon semifinalist Vekic defeated Diane Parry 6-4, 6-4 to roll into the Australian Open second round for the eighth time.
Vekic spent the offseason training in Los Angeles and said afterward her thoughts were with her coach, Pam Shriver, who is home in Southern California out of concern for the ongoing fires.
“It’s a very difficult situation for her. She’s home in L.A.,” Vekic said of Shriver. “Her house is okay for now, but so many have lost everything, and it’s a horrible situation.
“We were doing our pre-season in L.A. this year, so we were just there two weeks ago. So I really cannot believe what’s happening. We are very sad that she’s not here with us, but yeah.”
In Shriver’s absence, coach Sascha Bajin, who formerly worked with Naomi Osaka, Dayana Yastremska and Alycia Parks, is in Vekic’s corner. The veteran Vekic said Bajin is bringing plenty of positive energy.
“A lot of intensity. A lot of intensity,” Vekic said of Bajin. “Good energy. We had a really good pre-season. We worked really hard, so I was a little bit upset that I lost first three matches of the season. I was, like, No, come on, we worked so hard. I was practicing so well.
“But for me, even if I lost today, it wouldn’t have changed a lot. I think he’s a great coach, has a lot of experience, and hopefully we can have some good results together.”
