Swiatek defeated the 26-year-old Croatian 6-3, 3-6, 6-0 to claim her WTA-best 64th match victory of 2022.
Vekic defeated 19th-ranked American Danielle Collins, this year’s Australian Open runner-up, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2) in a rain-delayed semi-final on Sunday afternoon, rallying from 4-2 down in the third set when showers struck.
That left her with only a short rest period before facing Swiatek for the title, but she put the top-ranked player to the test in two sets.
Swiatek won the first set after 40 minutes when Vekic netted a backhand.
Vekic broke on a forehand crosscourt winner for a 4-2 lead in the second set and held twice to force a third set. Swiatek improved her form as a result.
“I wanted to give it everything, and knowing how Donna can serve, I wanted to be more loose in my return games – not think, just relax and let my instincts take over,” Swiatek explained.
She broke on a forehand winner to take a 2-0 lead in the decider, broke again in the fourth game, and won after one hour and 47 minutes when Vekic double faulted away a final break.
Vekic was competing in her first WTA final since winning her third career title in Courmayeur, Italy, last October.
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