Philippines' Alexandra Eala reacts as she plays against Czech Republic's Barbora Krejcikova during their women's singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2025. Glyn Kirk, AFP
Filipina tennis star Alex Eala will play an exhibition match against Donna Vekić in the 2026 Kooyong Classic before she competes in the year's first Grand Slam in Melbourne.
Eala is coming off a semifinal appearance in the ASB Classic in Auckland, wherein she ousted Croatia's Vekić in the first round.
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She is now in Melbourne for the 2026 Kooyong Classic, scheduled for January 13-15 before the Australian Open.
She and Vekić will have their rematch on January 14.
Ahead of her appearance in the tournament, Eala reached a career-best ranking of No. 49 in the WTA.
The event serves as a professional tennis exhibition singles-only tournament with invited Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and Women's Tennis Association (WTA) players.
Aside from Eala and Vekić, also slated to compete in the Kooyong Classic are world No. 121 and local bet Priscilla Hon and multiple Grand Slam mixed doubles champion Daniela Hantuchova.