Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala continues to impress on the international stage, securing another convincing victory as she fine-tunes her game for the first Grand Slam of the year.
Another Commanding Win for the Rising Star
On Wednesday, January 15, 2026, Alex Eala delivered a powerful performance at the Kooyong Classic exhibition tournament in Melbourne. The 20-year-old prodigy from the Philippines defeated Croatia's Donna Vekic in straight sets, with a final score of 6-3, 6-4. This marks her second triumph over the accomplished Croatian in just over a week.
Eala's recent win against Vekic is particularly notable because the Croatian player is a Paris Olympics silver medalist. Their previous encounter was at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, where Eala also emerged victorious after a tough three-set battle.
Building Momentum for Melbourne
This exhibition victory serves as Eala's final preparation before she steps onto the court for the Australian Open main draw, which runs from January 18 to February 1. Although the Kooyong Classic does not offer WTA ranking points, it provides invaluable match practice against top-tier competition.
Eala is riding a wave of confidence from her recent performance in Auckland, where she reached the semifinals of a WTA 250 event. Her run there was halted by China's Xinyu Wang in a closely contested three-set match.
Staying Grounded Amidst Success
Despite her rapid ascent and current career-high ranking of World No. 49, Eala remains remarkably focused and humble. In a recent statement, she reflected on the challenges of professional tennis.
"It's very difficult to get ahead of myself in this sport," Eala said. "Tennis is such a humbling sport. It keeps you grounded for sure. I try to take it week by week and surround myself with a great, experienced team."
She credits her support team for helping her set realistic goals. "I just broke the top 50 at the end of last season, so I'm hoping to go inch by inch, and more than anything, keep the level that I'm playing at," she added.
All eyes will now be on Eala as she carries this formidable form and newfound confidence into Melbourne Park. The nation hopes she can translate her strong exhibition performances into a deep and memorable run at the Australian Open.
