Donna Vekic Teams Up with Tennis Maestro Sascha Bajin for 2025

Donna Vekic Partners with Sascha Bajin for 2025 Tennis Season

In a significant move for her career, Donna Vekic has added Sascha Bajin, a Grand Slam-winning coach, to her team ahead of the 2025 tennis season. This exciting partnership comes after a remarkable 2024 for the Croatian, who reached her career-high ranking of No. 18 and made a historic run to the Wimbledon semifinals. The decision to team up with Bajin follows a successful two-year collaboration with Nikola Horvat and tennis legend Pam Shriver, which saw Vekic rise back into the top rankings after struggling in previous years.

Vekic’s 2024 season marked a dramatic improvement, particularly in the second half. She reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, her first-ever Grand Slam semifinal, and went on to secure Olympic silver in Paris. The Croatian star’s Olympic performance was one for the history books, as she became the first Croatian woman to win a medal in tennis. Notably, she defeated Coco Gauff and saved a match point to beat Marta Kostyuk in the quarterfinals, which propelled her to the silver medal match and a career-high ranking of No. 18.

In late 2023, Nikola Horvat and Vekic mutually agreed to part ways, as Horvat’s wife was expecting twins. Despite this change, Pam Shriver will remain a part of Vekic’s team as a consultant. This transition paved the way for the addition of Bajin, a coach with a proven track record of success.

Bajin, a highly respected figure in tennis coaching, rose to prominence during his time working with Serena Williams as her hitting partner for eight years, contributing significantly to Williams’ unparalleled success. Bajin went on to work with several top players, including Victoria Azarenka, Sloane Stephens, and Caroline Wozniacki. However, his most notable achievement came when he coached Naomi Osaka from 2017 to 2019. Under his guidance, Osaka won two Grand Slam titles, and Bajin was named the 2018 WTA Coach of the Year for his contribution to Osaka’s meteoric rise.

Bajin’s coaching career has included stints with other players such as Kristina Mladenovic, Dayana Yastremska, and Karolina Pliskova, with the latter reaching the 2021 Wimbledon final during their time together. Most recently, Bajin worked briefly with American player Alycia Parks during the 2024 Sunshine Double.

With Bajin’s expertise in coaching top-tier players and his ability to foster rapid improvements, Vekic is poised for even greater success in the coming season. Vekic’s decision to bring Bajin on board signals her intent to elevate her game further, particularly in her pursuit of her first Grand Slam title.

The new partnership has been welcomed warmly by Vekic, who shared her excitement with her followers on social media, posting a heartfelt message to Bajin on her Instagram story. As Vekic continues to build on her successful 2024 season, this partnership with one of the sport’s most accomplished coaches could mark the beginning of an even brighter chapter in her career.

With Bajin’s proven expertise and Vekic’s growing potential, the 2025 tennis season promises to be an exciting one for both players and fans alike.