Katie Boulter’s run at the Queen’s Club Championships came to an end in the semifinals on Sunday, as she fell to Croatian Donna Vekic in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3, in West London. The British No. 3 had delivered a career-defining victory over reigning Australian Open champion and former Wimbledon winner Elena Rybakina just 20 hours earlier but was unable to maintain that momentum against Vekic.

Boulter, 29, took to the Andy Murray Arena following her breakthrough win but started the match slowly, conceding an early service break to the fired-up Croatian opponent. Vekic, ranked world No. 76, displayed the aggressive baseline play that had propelled her to the Wimbledon semifinals two years ago. She did not face a single break point during the match, putting consistent pressure on Boulter with her powerful forehand.

Vekic entered the tournament as a lucky loser after Marta Kostyuk’s withdrawal, having lost in the qualifying rounds to Anna Blinkova last weekend. Despite this, her strong form on grass courts remained evident during Sunday’s encounter.

After her victory, Vekic expressed affection for London, noting her long-standing connection to the city where she spent considerable time training while growing up. “I spent a lot of time here training when I was younger, so have a lot of friends here. It feels like a second home to me,” she said, acknowledging her bond with the local tennis scene.

The win sets up Vekic for her appearance in the Queen’s final, while Boulter’s impressive campaign, highlighted by her upset of a top-ranked player, marks a significant milestone in her professional career.