Donna Vekić recovered from a slow start to defeat Ajla Tomljanović 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the Round of 64 at Charleston on March 31, 2026. After dropping the opening set, Vekić dominated the second 6-1 and closed out the third 6-4, winning 70% of points on her first serve to secure her fifth career title run.
Tomljanović controlled the first set with steady, consistent play, capitalizing on Vekić’s error-prone opening. But the Croatian found her range in set two, firing 7 aces compared to Tomljanović’s 5 while landing 63% of first serves. The turning point came in the second set, where Vekić won 6 consecutive games to level the match. Though Tomljanović maintained a superior first-serve percentage (72%), she couldn’t convert that consistency into points—winning just 63% behind her first delivery compared to Vekić’s 70%.
The decider stayed tight until Vekić pulled ahead late. Despite committing 4 double faults to Tomljanović’s 7, she won the critical exchanges when it mattered. The final tally showed Vekić edging the total points count 100-93, a narrow margin that reflected the match’s competitive nature after the lopsided second set.
Key Takeaways
- Vekić’s 70% first-serve points won proved decisive, outpacing Tomljanović’s 63% despite landing a lower percentage of first serves (63% vs 72%).
- The Croatian’s 7 aces significantly exceeded her hard court average of 4.8 per match, showcasing an elevated serving performance in a must-win comeback scenario.
- Tomljanović’s 7 double faults undermined her consistency advantage—her second-serve winning percentage dropped to just 30%, compared to Vekić’s 37%.
- After losing the first set, Vekić won 12 of the next 17 games, turning a 3-6 deficit into a commanding 6-1, 6-4 finish with 100 total points to Tomljanović’s 93.
Player Analysis
Donna Vekić
Vekić’s ability to reset after a disappointing first set defined this victory. She arrived in Charleston off a 3-7 record in her last 10 matches, searching for rhythm on hard courts. The opening set suggested more frustration ahead, but she flipped the script with aggressive serving—her 7 aces were well above her 4.8 per-match average—and crucially, she won 70% of first-serve points, a number that compensated for landing just 63% of those deliveries. Her second serve remained a liability at 37% points won, yet Tomljanović’s inability to capitalize (30% on her own second serve) let Vekić off the hook. The mental fortitude to win 6 straight games in the second set, then hold her nerve in a tight third, signals a player rediscovering form at the right time.
Ajla Tomljanović
Tomljanović’s 5-5 recent record suggested a player in solid form, and her 6-3 first set backed that up—she served at 72% and looked the steadier competitor. But the wheels came off in set two, where she won just a single game. Her 5 aces couldn’t mask the damage from 7 double faults, and more troublingly, she won only 63% of first-serve points despite that 72% placement rate. That’s a conversion problem that speaks to either passive shot selection or Vekić’s improved returns. On second serves, she was dismal at 30%, and that’s where Vekić pounced. Despite last year’s Charleston quarterfinal run giving her tournament familiarity, Tomljanović couldn’t sustain the consistency that defined her opening set. The 93-100 points tally shows she stayed competitive, but in a three-setter, the player who wins the big points advances—and today, that wasn’t her.
Match Statistics
| Donna Vekic | Stat | Ajla Tomljanovic |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Aces | 5 |
| 4 | Double Faults | 7 |
| 63% | 1st Serve % | 72% |
| 70% | 1st Serve Points Won | 63% |
| 37% | 2nd Serve Points Won | 30% |
| 100 | Total Points Won | 93 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score of Donna Vekić vs Ajla Tomljanović at Charleston 2026?
Donna Vekić defeated Ajla Tomljanović 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the Round of 64 at Charleston on March 31, 2026.
How many aces did Donna Vekić hit against Ajla Tomljanović?
Vekić hit 7 aces compared to Tomljanović’s 5, exceeding her hard court average of 4.8 aces per match.
Who won the Charleston 2026 Round of 64 match between Vekić and Tomljanović?
Donna Vekić won, rallying from a 3-6 first-set loss to take the match in three sets with a dominant 6-1 second set and a 6-4 third.
What was Vekić’s first-serve winning percentage against Tomljanović?
Vekić won 70% of points on her first serve, compared to Tomljanović’s 63%, despite landing fewer first serves overall (63% vs 72%).
What’s Next
Vekić advances to the Round of 32 at Charleston, where she’ll look to build on this comeback performance and extend her run in a tournament she hasn’t contested since 2015.
Head-to-head history: Ajla Tomljanovic vs Donna Vekic.
