Southeast Asia's tennis pride defeats Olympic silver medalist after nearly 3 hours of intense play

The reigning SEA Games gold medalist made a mark on the international stage against a top-level opponent.

The young Filipino tennis player - Alexandra Eala caused an upset at the 2026 ASB Classic by coming from behind to beat Paris Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a 2 hour 40 minute opening round women's singles match on January 6 in Auckland, New Zealand.

At the start of the match, Eala impressed by quickly taking a 3-0 lead. However, Vekic’s experience showed at the right moment. The 29-year-old Croatian won 6 of the next 7 games to close the first set 6-4.

Without letting disappointment affect her spirit, Eala came back strongly in the second set. She quickly gained a crucial advantage with a 5-3 lead and then closed the set 6-4 as well.

The deciding set featured a thrilling battle. Vekic earned the first break in the 8th game, but the former Rafa Nadal academy player showed remarkable resilience by winning two critical points, maintaining her 5-3 lead, and ultimately closing the match with a confident game win.

Though playing far from home, Eala seemed far from alone. In the stands, a large crowd of Filipino fans created a passionate atmosphere, continuously cheering and boosting the young player’s morale during the nearly 3-hour intense and emotional match.

"This is truly special. One thing I learned in 2025 is that home is not a place, but the people.", the reigning SEA Games gold medalist emotionally shared after the match. "Thank you to everyone (spoken in Filipino)". The top Southeast Asian player revealed she experienced some health issues before the deciding set and required medical assistance.

In the next round, Alexandra Eala will face another Croatian player - Petra Marcinko. Additionally, the 20-year-old is also competing in the women's doubles, partnering with Iva Jovic and set to play Jesika Maleckova/Renata Zarazua in two days.