Croatia's tennis player Donna Vekic poses with the trophy after winning the Monterrey WTA Open final match against France’s Caroline Garcia (not in photograph) in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico on March 5, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

Donna Vekic nearly quit tennis amid doubts over her fitness after undergoing knee surgery two years ago, but the Croatian has made a remarkable comeback and captured her first title since 2021 by winning in Monterrey on Sunday.

Vekic went under the knife after the 2021 Australian Open and had said at the Melbourne Park major in January that she was in a constant fight to regain her old level after being out for months at a time with knee issues.

She won her fourth career title and first since Courmayeur in 2021 after beating top seed Caroline Garcia 6-4 3-6 7-5 in the final in Mexico.

Croatia's Donna Vekic serves against France’s Caroline Garcia (not in photograph) during the Monterrey WTA Open women's singles final tennis match in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico on March 5, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

If the title didn't come now, I believe it would have come soon. I've been playing good tennis and I need to keep working hard and hopefully stay healthy ... I'm sure I'll keep having good results.

Donna Vekic, Croatian professional tennis player

"It's been a great start to the year for me," Vekic said.

The Australian Open quarter-finalist said she was sure that she would return to the winners circle at some point this year after reaching the San Diego final in October.

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Having beaten several top seeds in that tournament, she lost to world number one Iga Swiatek in the final.

"If the title didn't come now, I believe it would have come soon. I've been playing good tennis and I need to keep working hard and hopefully stay healthy," the 26-year-old Vekic said.

"I'm sure I'll keep having good results."

France’s Caroline Garcia returns the ball to Croatia's Donna Vekic (not in photograph) during the Monterrey WTA Open women's singles final tennis match in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon State, Mexico on March 5, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

Victory over world number five Garcia marked the first time Vekic had beaten a top-10 player this year and she rose eight places to number 23 in the world rankings.

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"It was a crazy match until the end, (Garcia) was playing so well, playing so deep," Vekic said. "I was trying to win as many points as I could. It wasn't easy, but I'm really happy to win."