Tennis Star Donna Vekic In Workout Gear Says "Hello You"

Croatian tennis player Donna Vekic may have been knocked out of Wimbledon but based on her recent social media posts, she’s still in high spirits (she went on vacation, and well-deserved). Vekic, 28, previously shared a picture of herself wearing black pants and a matching long-sleeved shirt, sitting on the grass while holding a tennis racket. “Hello you 🌱🫶🏻,” she captioned the post. What’s next for the athlete? Here’s what her diet and wellness regimen looks like.

1. Plant-Based Food

Vekic enjoys experimenting with plant-based recipes. “Nutrition is very important—up to 70 percent of helping you play your best—but we can also get away with taking a few liberties here and there,” she told Tennis.com. “It all comes down to timing, and when you’re eating right. I really like @deliciouslyella, who posts about plant-based living. I’m not vegan, but I love her recipes and products.”

2. Working With Nutritionist

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Vekic works with professionals to make sure she is getting all the nutrients she needs. “I started working with a nutritionist in the last off-season, so I had a set meal plan, but it’s a bit trickier to follow it when I’m on the road,” she told Tennis.com. “I have to eat a lot in restaurants, which can make it harder to plan ahead, as opposed to when I’m able to cook at home. I try to eat about two hours before a match, but if the match before mine goes longer than planned, I will have a small snack, like an energy bar or a banana. Afterward, I try not to eat carbs for dinner, and I try to eat my dinner early because I think it helps me sleep better.”

3. Post-Match Routine

Vekic focuses on recovery after matches. “My post-match routine will change quite dramatically depending on if I win or lose,” she told Metro UK. “If I get knocked out, I usually just rush to the locker room, shower and get out as fast as possible. Hopefully I’ll win on Tuesday and then it’s the usual bike, stretching, ice bath and having a bit of food somewhere in between as well as media duties. Providing I don’t finish too late, I’ll take my team out for a nice dinner but if not then it’s usually straight to bed.”

4. Grand Slam Meal

Vekic loves cooking her mother’s famous lasagne, and knows exactly what her ultimate post Grand-Slam meal would be. “I would probably have a drink first, and then order a burger, followed by a Nutella pizza for dessert,” she told Tennis.com.

5. Proud Of Her Work

Vekic had a rough time overcoming injuries. “Those couple of years were very tough. I didn’t think I was ever going to come back to the level that I even had last year,” she told AP. “So this now, reaching my best result ever at a Slam, I’m really proud of myself, of the work that I’ve done, of the work that my team has done. I’m very thankful to them for believing in me when I didn’t.”

Donna Vekić, a professional tennis player, has achieved remarkable success in her career, winning four singles titles and earning a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics. This year, she reached the semifinals at Wimbledon, further cementing her reputation as one of the sport’s top competitors. Vekić recently shared a glimpse of her fitness routine on Instagram, posting a story of herself in black workout clothes at the gym. Beyond her time on the court, Vekić prioritizes healthy eating, balanced nutrition, and consistent fueling to maintain peak performance. She’s also candid about her journey, including the challenges she faced after knee surgery. Reflecting on her comeback, Vekić emphasizes the hard work and determination that have brought her to new heights in her career. Here’s how she stays focused and at the top of her game.

1. She Plays Tennis

Tennis is the main thing that keeps Vekić in shape. According to Lee Health, the sport has a lot of health benefits. “Paul Zavala, an occupational therapist at Lee Health, says tennis contributes to fitness, strength, agility, flexibility, reflexes, and overall health. Tennis helps you learn better footwork and balance since mobility is a key to properly hitting the ball. Tennis utilizes upper, core, and lower body muscles – but it’s also one of the best cardiovascular and aerobic exercises you can do. Playing a few sets increases oxygen flow, circulation, and helps you fight back heart disease. That kind of physical workout also decreases lipids, which helps lower cholesterol.”

2. She Eats Healthy

Since she’s a professional athlete, Vekić has to eat a healthy diet. She talked about her approach to eating in an interview with Tennis.com. Vekić says that balance is a big factor in her diet. “Nutrition is very important—up to 70 percent of helping you play your best—but we can also get away with taking a few liberties here and there. It all comes down to timing, and when you’re eating right.”

3. She Works With A Nutritionist

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Vekić revealed in her Tennis.com interview that she decided to work with a nutritionist to help her plan meals and eat better. “I started working with a nutritionist in the last off-season, so I had a set meal plan, but it’s a bit trickier to follow it when I’m on the road. I have to eat a lot in restaurants, which can make it harder to plan ahead, as opposed to when I’m able to cook at home.”

4. She Consistently Fuels Herself

When Vekić is on the court, she has to stay fueled. She revealed her pre, during, and post game foods in her Tennis.com interview. “I try to eat about two hours before a match, but if the match before mine goes longer than planned, I will have a small snack, like an energy bar or a banana. Afterward, I try not to eat carbs for dinner, and I try to eat my dinner early because I think it helps me sleep better.”

5. She’s Proud Of Herself

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Vekić had a great competitive year, and she’s extremely proud of it. She revealed that she nearly quit tennis after knee surgery in an interview with AP News, which is why she’s so proud of herself. “Those couple of years were very tough. I didn’t think I was ever going to come back to the level that I even had last year. So this now, reaching my best result ever at a Slam, I’m really proud of myself, of the work that I’ve done, of the work that my team has done. I’m very thankful to them for believing in me when I didn’t.”

Amanda Anisimova, a rising tennis star with two WTA titles, is not only known for her athletic achievements but also for her candid approach to mental health. In a recent Instagram post, she shared highlights from her tournament in Seoul, expressing her excitement for the city and her journey in tennis. While playing the sport is a key part of her fitness routine, she also enjoys hiking and embraces the mental and physical benefits it offers. Anisimova stepped away from the sport in 2023 to prioritize her mental health, opening up about burnout and how it impacted her career. Her honesty about her struggles aims to inspire others to take care of themselves and seek support when needed.

1. She Plays Tennis

One of the ways that Anisimova stays in shape is by playing tennis. The Columbia Association states that the sport has a lot of benefits. “Tennis is an excellent full-body workout that releases feel-good endorphins to help you relax and relieve tension. Its low-impact nature also means your joints and bones will thank you. Because tennis includes short bursts of activity, it offers the same conditioning benefits of interval training, which has an unparalleled positive effect on the heart and lungs, slashing your risk of heart disease by 56% (!). Just an hour of play burns between 400 to 600 calories.”

2. She Hikes

Anisimova shared this photo on Instagram of herself hiking by the ocean. Piedmont states that hiking has a lot of benefits. “Hiking is a weight-bearing exercise that builds muscle mass and helps prevent osteoporosis. Hiking can help you manage your weight. It is a joint-friendly form of exercise that can keep arthritis sufferers more limber and mobile.”

3. She Stepped Away

In 2023, Anisimova shared what caused her to take a break from playing tennis on Instagram. She captioned the post, “Hey guys. I thought I’d make a post explaining what’s been going on and my plans. I’ve really been struggling with my mental health and burnout since the summer of 2022. It’s become unbearable being at tennis tournaments. At this point my priority is my mental well-being and taking a break for some time. I’ve worked as hard as I could to push through it. I will miss being out there, and I appreciate all the continuous support 🤍✌️”

4. She Has Support

Anisimova has a lot of support out there. She talked about this in the caption of this Instagram post. “Sad with the result 😢 wish I could play more in front of you guys here, it’s absolutely my favorite place to play. Thank you to all the fans who came out, you guys are amazing. Shoutout to the guys in the corner behind me who were screaming, you guys were awesome 😂 Last year I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to play here this year 🖤 I’ll take away all the positives and lessons with me for next year, see you all then ✌🏽”

5. She Wants To Inspire Others

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Anisimova talked about wanting to inspire others in an interview with The New Zealand Herald. “I was happy that I was able to be honest about the reason why I was stepping away,” said Anisimova. “Just being vulnerable about it [was] kind of freeing and takes a little bit of weight off my shoulders and if I can help other people in knowing that they are not the only ones struggling, they are not alone in it. It was really good to post about it and give some insight into mental health and that it is really important and taking care of yourself always comes first.”

Yulia Putintseva is an extremely successful tennis player. She has competed in the US and French Opens, and has won two titles on the WTA Tour. In March, she shared some photos and a video on Instagram of herself on the court, captioning it, “Until next year.” In April, Putintseva shared a photo of herself on the court in Spain. She captioned the photo, “Hello.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Yulia Putintseva stays in shape and the photos that prove they work.

1. She Plays Tennis

Tennis is the main way Putintseva keeps fit. Lee Health states that the sport has a lot of benefits. “Tennis utilizes upper, core, and lower body muscles – but it’s also one of the best cardiovascular and aerobic exercises you can do. Playing a few sets increases oxygen flow, circulation, and helps you fight back heart disease. That kind of physical workout also decreases lipids, which helps lower cholesterol.”

2. She’s Driven

Putintseva talked about her career in an interview with The New York Times. She says that she is very driven to do well. “I’ve always had this fire inside, and I always wanted to be a part of the great players. I want to be one of them, so I just keep on working. Even though sometimes I’m losing, sometimes I’m winning, I just keep on working.”

3. She’s Handling The Pressure

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In her New York Times interview, Putintseva talked about how she handles the pressure of playing professionally. “I think I’ve started to do better now handling — not the pressure, but when the things are not going in the right direction,” she said. “Just to keep doing your thing, keep focusing, keep trying, keep believing and keep working.”

4. She Hikes

Putintseva likes to go on hikes to stay in shape. She shares a lot of hiking posts on Instagram. She shared these photos and one video of herself hiking on the Hoover Dam. Putintseva captioned the post, “Exploring the world.” She also shared these photos and video of herself hiking in the Grand Canyon.

5. She Swims

Putintseva likes to swim to keep herself in shape. She shared this photo on Instagram of herself wading in a pool. Putintseva captioned the post, “Good news! Today is summer, tomorrow is summer, in a month it is also summer! And even in a year it's summer.” The Cleveland Clinic states that swimming has a lot of benefits. “According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a 154-pound person who swims slow freestyle laps for 30 minutes burns 255 calories. But that amount varies depending on your weight, speed and stroke.”