Tennis is a lonely sport. You're out there on an island, thousands of miles from home, grinding through hotels and airports. It makes sense that players gravitate toward each other. But few pairings in the modern era sparked as much tabloid frenzy and locker-room tension as Donna Vekic and Stan Wawrinka. It wasn't just the age gap—which was significant—but the way the world found out about them.
For years, they were the "it" couple of the tour, a Swiss powerhouse and a rising Croatian talent. Then, it all blew up in the most public way possible on a hot night in Montreal.
The Relationship Nobody Saw Coming
Stan Wawrinka was at the absolute peak of his "Stan the Man" era. He had just stunned Novak Djokovic to win the 2015 French Open, cementing himself as the only guy who could consistently bully the Big Three. Off the court, though, things were messy. He had recently announced his separation from his wife, Ilham Vuilloud, with whom he has a daughter.
Then came Donna Vekic.
She was the teenage prodigy who had won her first WTA title at 17. Rumors started swirling in 2015 that the two were an item. He was 30; she was 19. They never really did the big "Vogue" couple reveal. Instead, they just... were. She would be spotted in his player box during deep runs at Grand Slams. He’d be seen cheering her on at smaller WTA events. It felt like a settled, if quiet, partnership.
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The Nick Kyrgios Incident: "Sorry to Tell You That, Mate"
You can't talk about Vekic and Wawrinka without talking about Nick Kyrgios. Honestly, it’s one of the most classless moments in the history of the ATP. During a match at the 2015 Rogers Cup, the microphones caught Kyrgios muttering a low blow to Wawrinka during a changeover.
"Kokkinakis banged your girlfriend. Sorry to tell you that, mate."
Kyrgios was referring to Thanasi Kokkinakis, another young Australian player who had played mixed doubles with Vekic. The comment wasn't just an insult to Stan; it dragged Donna’s private life into the mud for the entire world to dissect. Wawrinka was fuming. He confronted Kyrgios in the locker room afterward, later tweeting that "to stoop so low is not only unacceptable but also beyond belief."
Donna, to her credit, handled it with incredible poise. She didn't go on a media tear. She just said it was "disappointing" for the sport. It’s kinda wild that she had to answer for a man’s lack of filter while she was just trying to win tennis matches.
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Why Did They Break Up?
The relationship actually lasted a lot longer than people realize. While most "tour romances" fizzle out in a season, Donna and Stan were together for roughly four years. They eventually called it quits in early 2019, right before the clay-court season.
Why? There wasn't some scandalous explosion this time. It was the classic tennis tragedy: schedules. When you’re both top-tier pros, you’re rarely in the same city at the same time. He’s in Dubai; she’s in Doha. He’s in Geneva; she’s in Nottingham. The distance eventually just eats the relationship alive.
Where Are They Now? (2024–2026 Update)
If you look at where they are today, it’s like they swapped career trajectories. Donna Vekic is having the absolute summer of her life. After years of struggling with knee surgeries and almost quitting the sport in 2023, she reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2024 and secured a silver medal at the Paris Olympics.
As of early 2026, Vekic has reached a career-high ranking of world No. 17. She’s finally the "top ten" threat everyone predicted she would be back when she was dating Stan.
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Stan, meanwhile, is on his "One Last Push." Now 40 years old, he recently announced that 2026 will be his final year on the ATP Tour. He’s at peace with it. He isn't winning Slams anymore, but the backhand is still there, and the crowd still roars for him.
Key Takeaways for Tennis Fans
- The Age Gap: The 11-year difference was a major talking point in 2015, but the two remained a stable couple for nearly four years.
- Professionalism: Despite the 2015 scandal, both players kept their focus on the court. Vekic’s recent Olympic success proves that she was never defined by her high-profile relationship.
- Current Status: Both are single or at least keeping their private lives strictly private. There have been no confirmed reports of them rekindling their romance.
If you’re following the tour this year, watch Vekic during the grass season. Her game is perfectly suited for it, and her confidence has never been higher. For Stan, catch him while you can. 2026 is the final curtain for one of the greatest backhands the game has ever seen.
Next Steps for You
- Check the 2026 ATP/WTA calendar for the "Sunshine Double" (Indian Wells and Miami) to see if Vekic can crack the top 10.
- Look for Stan Wawrinka's farewell matches at the Geneva Open or Roland Garros, as these will be his final appearances on his favorite surface.
- Keep an eye on Donna’s lifestyle brand, DNNA, which she has started scaling as she prepares for life after her playing career.
The drama of 2015 is long gone, replaced by the respect earned through longevity. Both players have moved past being "half of a couple" and firmly back into being legends in their own right.