Eala edges Vekic to advance in ASB Classic

Alexandra Eala of Philippines celebrates her win against Madison Keys during Day 6 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 23, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Al Bello / Getty Images / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala came from behind and punched a ticket to the next round of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand after outlasting Donna Vekic, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, Tuesday.

The two tennisters, playing at center court, battled for two hours and 40 minutes, before the recently crowned Southeast Asian Games gold medalist did just enough to grab the victory in front of a heavily-pro Eala crowd.

“She's such an experienced player and super talented and definitely very decorated. So, I really had a tough time today,” Eala said after the match.

“But I'm most happy about being able to compete and show up at a level like this, especially after such a tough preseason and so many things that's happened over the past month. So, I’m proud about that.”

After blowing a 3-0 start and absorbing a 4-6 loss in the first set, Eala broke free from her Croatian opponent in the second frame.

Vekic tied things up at 3-3 after winning the sixth game, but the World No. 53 Filipina won the next two games, showcasing her superior returns to go up 5-3.

And while Vekic kept herself alive, the fourth-seeded player forced the third set after winning the 10th game.

It was more of the same in the third set, with Vekic tying things up at 3-3.

But Eala held her serve and won the all-important seventh game to go up, 4-3.

She broke her opponent’s serve to move to within a game from getting the win, 5-3, but the World No. 69 Croatian saved her campaign in the ninth game.

Eala, though, was just too good to handle as she stamped her ticket to the next round after Vekic’s return went straight to the net.

She also tipped her hat to the crowd, saying that she felt right at home because “home is about the people and not the place.”

Eala will now take on Petra Marcinko in the next round. The 20-year-old Croatian is currently ranked 82nd in the world.

The Filipina also won in doubles’ action on Monday, after she and her partner, Iva Jovic, defeated Elina Svitolina and Venus Williams in straight sets.