Riding the wave of Alex Eala’s rising fame, Croatian star Donna Vekic is betting that the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open can help grow tennis in the country — and inspire the next generation of players to follow in the footsteps of the homegrown sensation.
“It is amazing to ride on the wave of Alex’s impact and what she brings to the country, making more people aware of tennis. I guess many kids are now starting to pick up the sport because of her,” Vekic said on the eve of her women’s singles opening round debut.
“Who knows? Maybe we’ll see another star like Alex soon,” added the Paris Olympic Games silver medalist in women’s singles, praising the inaugural WTA 125 tournament supported by the Philippine Sports Commission. She encouraged young netters to “work hard, be yourself, and enjoy the game.”
Ranked No. 72 in the world and seeded fourth, Vekic is set to face Japan’s Kyoko Nakamura (No. 310) in one of today’s featured matches.
“I’m hoping to play aggressively. A good first serve really helps my game, and it helps me stay consistent. I aim to dominate the court with my play,” she said.
Vekic also praised the playing conditions. “The courts are great, and they suit me. I know a lot of effort went into making this happen. The humidity suits me too, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Having lost twice recently to Eala — first at the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, and then at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne last week — Vekic said she knows what to expect when facing the hometown favorite.
“Support for Alex has been absolutely incredible. After the matches, I jokingly told the Filipino crowd maybe they’ll adopt me. And I feel like they have,” she said.
“I enjoy a huge crowd. It’s a great atmosphere, even if they aren’t cheering for me. I’m ready for that. But hopefully, the Filipinos will support me here — at least until I play Alex,” Vekic added.
Asked about her relationship with Eala, Vekic said: “I think she has a good relationship with me. I don’t know her that well, but she seems really sweet.”
Despite a disappointing Australian Open, Vekic’s focus in the Philippines is simple: “To play as many matches as possible. I had a really good off-season training, and now I hope to pick up some wins. It’s important to get matches under my belt, gain confidence, and get back to where I was before.”
