Reuters
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Croatian Donna Vekic said she was “freaking out” after the door of the helicopter she was traveling to the Guadalajara Open in Mexico swung open mid-flight.
The 26-year-old, a runner-up in San Diego last week, arrived safely and made light work of first-round opponent Laura Pigossi, but her pre-game routine was hardly ideal.
“It was great, except the door opened mid-flight,” Vekic told reporters. “It was actually my fault because when we were seated at first it was so hot so I opened the door a bit to get some air. I guess I didn’t get it well firm.
“10 minutes into the flight, the door opened. I panicked. The guys were freaking out in the back because I was sitting up front.
“The pilot was like, ‘No pasa nada. Pas de pasa nada (no problem).’”
Vekic, who started a company making beeswax candles and donates to bee conservation, is battling to move up the rankings after falling outside the top 100.
She impressed in San Diego where she qualified and beat two top 10 players before losing to world number one Iga Swiatek in the final in three sets.
Vekic faces Veronika Kudermetova on Wednesday.
