Alexandra Eala should head to Melbourne brimming with confidence after enjoying a solid preparation for the Australian Open.
2026 will mark her first appearance in the main draw at this event, having guaranteed her spot after the stunning work she put in the year prior.
This saw her rise from around 138 in the world rankings to 49th now, thus securing her spot in major events for the foreseeable future.
However, participation will not be the end goal for a player as talented and driven as Alexandra Eala.
She will want more, and backed by a relentless wave of Filipino backing, she has every right to strive for greatness.
Donna Vekic reacts after losing to Alexandra Eala at the Kooyong Classic
In fact, such is the stature of this support, one top WTA player has actually come out and called for the Philippines to share some of the love ahead of the Australian Open, after losing to Eala at the Kooyong Classic.
Featuring in this exhibition event ahead of a trip to Melbourne, it was Donna Vekic who was well beaten by the 20-year-old talent.
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In winning that match, Eala claimed the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Trophy, and her second win over the Croatian in a week.
Speaking after her defeat, Vekic was naturally impressed with her opponent, and took time to praise both her and her fanbase: “Every time [I play against Alex], I feel like we’re playing in the centre of the Philippines, so I don’t know, there’s so many of you guys out there.
“I think it was still a good match. Congrats to Alex, she played really well. Eventually, I’ll get to you.
“Well, there’s not even one percent of Croatians as much as there are [people in the] Philippines. Maybe they’ll adopt me and support me in the Australian Open.”
It’s not often that a Grand Slam semi-finalist calls on another player’s fanbase for support ahead of a major tournament, but even Eala has admitted she’s been surprised by her fans in Australia of late.
Alexandra Eala talks about her preparation for the Australian Open
Speaking to the Australian Open press, it seems like Eala is ready and raring to compete in her first main draw in Melbourne.
Asked about her landmark campaign in 2025, which has propelled her to this current standing, she admitted: “How do I embrace that? I try to take it with a spoonful of gratitude. I think not a lot of people get to experience this in their lifetime, so I’m just so grateful to be in this position and to have that support.
Who are your favourites for the 2026 Australian Open title?
Credit: Sofascore
“I think, if anything, it’s just try to take it in with the positives. It sure does help when I’m out on court and people are supporting, so yeah.”
Then speaking about her preparation for the event, Eala added: “Well, it definitely was great for confidence, and to get matches in always helps before slams. So yeah, I’m confident with how I’m playing. Doesn’t mean that the matches aren’t going to be tough here, so I’m ready for anything, yeah.”
