Words: Milo Radonjic
Photos: Donna’s archive
Few athletes move through the world with the poise and understated confidence of Donna Vekić, the Croatian tennis star whose career has been shaped by resilience, precision, and defining moments on the global stage. A three-time WTA champion and Olympic silver medallist, she has established herself among the sport’s most compelling figures, balancing competitive intensity with an effortless sense of elegance beyond the court.
For Donna, travel is not a backdrop to her career but an intrinsic part of it. The rhythm of constant movement, from London’s traditions to New York’s electric pace, the reflective stillness of Indian Wells, and Dubai’s diversity, has shaped both her game and her perspective. Each destination carries memory, discipline, and emotion, forming a personal map that extends far beyond rankings and results.
In this conversation with Villa 88 Travel, she reflects on the places that feel like home, the rituals that ground her between continents, and the evolving meaning of luxury in a life lived in motion. It is a portrait of an athlete defined not only by where she competes, but by how she experiences the world along the way.
You’ve travelled the world through tennis. What destination feels most like your second home, and why?
London has always felt like a second home, I spent a lot of time there when I was younger as it was my base for training. It has that rare balance of familiarity and momentum. During Wimbledon, which is my favorite slam, I already have my routines. Renting the same house in Wimbledon village, the same coffee spots, the same quiet walks, and it starts to feel less like a stop on the tour and more like a place you return to with intention.
When you think of the cities that shaped your career, which three stand out and what memories do they carry?
London, for its sense of tradition, stepping onto grass at Wimbledon never loses its weight. Being few points away from the final was heartbreaking, but I will always remember those two weeks. New York, for its raw energy; it forces you to sharpen every edge of your game and raise it to another level. And Paris, where I won my silver medal. Staying in the Olympic village during the tournament was incredible , the inspiration and energy from other athletes is incredible. However after sleeping on cardboard beds for 10 days I treated myself to a few nights at Le Royal Monceau, my favorite hotel in Europe!
Tennis schedules are intense. What travel rituals help you stay grounded between continents and tournaments?
Consistency becomes a form of control. TV shows on long flights, staying disciplined with recovery routines, visiting my favorite spots and restaurants. It’s important to try to disconnect from tennis once you leave the tournament site which is not always easy, that’s why for me having my family and friends around as much as possible is important. It’s less about escaping the chaos and more about creating a steady internal rhythm regardless of where you are.
Is there a city whose energy noticeably elevates your game when you step onto the court?
New York has that effect. The pace, the noise, the unpredictability, it demands presence. There’s no drifting through a match there; the city pulls you into the moment, and if you embrace it, it can elevate everything. Last year I played night session on Arthur Ashe, and the noise was something I’ve never experienced before. You can’t beat New York and its energy.
What is the most unforgettable match-location combination in your career, where the place itself made the win (or loss) feel different?
Wimbledon stands apart. Winning there feels timeless; losing there lingers differently too. The setting carries history in a way that amplifies emotion, every point feels like it’s part of something much bigger than the match itself. It’s not just competition; it’s context, legacy, and atmosphere converging all at once.
How has constant travel influenced your mindset as an athlete? Anything you’ve learned about resilience on the road?
Travel teaches you to detach from ideal conditions. You learn quickly that performance can’t depend on comfort or familiarity. Resilience, for me, became the ability to reset—mentally and physically—no matter the time zone, the surface, or the circumstance. It’s less about control, more about adaptability.
You spend much of your year living from a suitcase. What are the non-negotiable items you always pack?
Ugh. Don’t remind me. I guess I have a lot of non – negotiable items since I always carry so much! Too much. But oh well. A girls needs to have extra pairs of shoes right? One thing I would never forget is perfumes. Currently obsessed with Queen of Silk by Creed.
Which destination surprises you every time you return? Either with food, culture, or simply the feeling of being there?
Tokyo! It’s a city of precision and contrast—quiet yet electric, deeply traditional yet relentlessly modern. Each visit reveals something new, whether it’s a hidden restaurant or just the way the city moves with such intention.
In your down time between tournaments, how do you choose where to recharge? Mountains, beaches, or new cities?
It depends. At the moment I’m living in Monaco, and it’s the perfect place to reset and recharge between tournaments. In the winter I love snow and skiing but I usually don’t have time. Our season ends in November and then it’s Maldives time. My favorite place on earth. Every time is like a first time seeing those turquoise blue waters, it never gets old.
Is there a place that changed you personally, not just professionally? Somewhere that shifted your outlook on life or sport?
Indian Wells has a certain stillness to it. The landscape, the light, the space, it creates distance from the usual intensity of the tour. It allowed me to see the sport with a bit more perspective, to understand that longevity is as much mental as it is physical.
What does “luxury” mean to you when you travel? Privacy, comfort, nature, or something else entirely?
Privacy is the biggest luxury you can have. Right after personalized slippers and bed sheets! To feel safe enough to relax and disconnect is rare in hotels but it’s possible. It’s one of the things that inspired me to create my line of candles and interior scents DNNA. When I was traveling, I would always buy a candle to make a hotel room feel a bit more cozy and then one day I just decided to make them myself!
How do you balance the intensity of competing with the desire to actually experience the places you visit?
You accept that you can’t do everything. The priority is always performance, but I’ve learned to find small, deliberate ways to connect with a place, whether it’s a dinner, a walk, or a quick shopping stop. It’s about quality over quantity.
What’s a local tradition, dish, or cultural moment from your travels that stayed with you long after you left?
There’s something about Italian food – the way time slows down around the table. It’s not just the food; it’s the ritual of it, the emphasis on presence and connection. That stays with you.
What is your favorite hotel in the world, and why?
To have one is impossible. I’ve already mentioned Le Royale Monceau in Europe, for holidays Joali Being in Maldives, in Middle East by far Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab, I’ve had an incredible stay there before heading out to Australia. And yes I took those personalized slippers home. Maybe some soap too. I’m not usually hungry in the mornings and I like to skip breakfast but that was not the case in Marsa.
And finally, your brand DASH Diamonds carries a spirit of elegance and personal meaning. How does travel inspire its designs, and in what way do you see the modern woman wearing DASH as she moves through the world?
Travel introduces you to contrasts, architecture, textures, light, and those elements naturally translate into design. DASH is about refined simplicity and elegance, diamonds that you wear every day. Go to the gym in. Play tennis. Go to dinner. Or a gala. I see the woman or a man wearing it as independent, understated, and self-assured. Someone who doesn’t need to announce their presence, because it’s already felt.
