Filipina tennis sensation Alexandra Eala kicked off her 2026 season with a dramatic and emotional victory, battling from a set down to defeat Croatia's Donna Vekic in the first round of the ASB Classic in Auckland on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
A Gritty Comeback on New Zealand Soil
The match, lasting over two hours and forty minutes, saw the fourth-seeded Eala secure a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win against the experienced Vekic. The Croatian, a former Top 20 player currently ranked 69th, took control early, recovering from a 3-0 deficit in the first set to win six of the next seven games.
Eala, however, showcased her trademark resilience. She steadied herself in the second set, producing a crucial break in the second game after a spectacular defensive scramble. Although Vekic fought back to save two set points and break serve, Eala immediately broke again to level the match.
Sealing the Deal with Filipino Support
The final set followed a tense pattern. Serving for the match at 5-3, Eala faced a setback with a double fault on break point, giving Vekic a lifeline. Unshaken, the 20-year-old Filipina closed out the match on her very next opportunity. At 5-4, on her first match point, she unleashed a powerful forehand winner into the corner to seal a hard-fought triumph.
The victory was made sweeter by the presence of a small but vocal group of Filipino fans waving flags and cheering her name throughout the contest. After the match, a visibly moved Eala turned to them and formed a heart sign with her hands.
'Home is the People, Not the Place'
In her post-match interview, Eala reflected on the profound support, sharing a lesson from her previous year. "If there's one thing I learned in 2025, it's that home is the people and not the place," she stated. Nodding towards the stands, she added, "Wherever I go, they make me feel like I belong."
This win was buoyed by an emotional high from the previous day, where Eala and her close friend Iva Jovic scored a doubles victory over the legendary pair of Elina Svitolina and Venus Williams. Eala called that moment a "highlight of my career" and rewatched the match at her hotel for inspiration before her singles encounter.
Next Challenge: A Clash of Junior Champions
With the win, Eala advances to the second round where she will face another rising star, Croatia's Petra Marcinko. This will be their first-ever meeting at the WTA Tour level. Interestingly, both players were born in 2005 and captured junior Grand Slam titles in 2022—Marcinko at the Australian Open and Eala at the US Open.
Marcinko earned her spot by rallying from 4-2 down in the third set to defeat Camila Osorio 6-4, 0-6, 7-6(2), marking her first WTA main-draw win since 2023. The matchup sets the stage for a compelling battle between two talents whose careers have been on a parallel ascent.
Eala's performance in Auckland is a powerful start to the new season, demonstrating not only her growing skill on the court but also the deep connection she shares with the Filipino community worldwide.
