Alex Eala will face Donna Vekic in an exhibition match at the Kooyong Classic as part of her final tune-up for the 2026 Australian Open in Melbourne.
Filipina tennis star Alex Eala will sharpen her form ahead of the season’s first Grand Slam when she faces Croatia’s Donna Vekic in an exhibition match at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne.
Eala arrives in Australia riding strong momentum after a semifinal run at the ASB Classic in Auckland, where she ousted Veki in the opening round.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala bucks pain to win 3-set thriller over Donna Vekic at ASB Classic]
The rematch is set for January 14 during the Kooyong Classic, scheduled from January 13 to 15, serving as Eala’s final tune-up before the Australian Open.
The exhibition also marks another milestone for the 20-year-old, who recently climbed to a career-best No. 49 in the WTA rankings.
The Kooyong Classic is a singles-only professional exhibition featuring invited ATP and WTA players.
Joining Eala and Vekic in the field are world No. 121 and local favorite Priscilla Hon, along with multiple Grand Slam mixed doubles champion Daniela Hantuchova.
Eala's match on Wednesday, January 14, will be the third in the day after Learner Tien vs Marin Cilic and Denis Shapovalov vs Jordan Thompson.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
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