By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala reaffirmed her mastery over 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist Donna Vekic with a 6-3, 6-4 victory in their singles exhibition match at the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne, Australia on Wednesday, Jan. 14.
Eala, who is enjoying a career-high No. 49 ranking in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), fell behind 1-2 before imposing her might to by build 4-2 and 5-3 leads on the way to taking the opening set.
Vekic, ranked 21 spots lower than Eala at No. 70, also started well in the second set, taking a 2-1 lead.
But once again, Eala refused to be intimidated as she won four straight games to surge ahead 4-2 which proved enough to disarm Vekic.
The triumph marked Eala’s second victory over Vekic, following her 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win in their first meeting during the Round of 32 at last week’s ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.
Eala also joined the day’s winners Learner Tien, who stunned 2014 US Open champion Marin Cilic, 7-5, 4-6, 10-7, and 2024 US Open doubles champion Jordan Thompson, who escaped two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist Denis Shapovalov, 6-7 (1), 6-3, 10-8.
The professional tennis exhibition singles-only tournament, which has invited Association of Tennis Professionals, and (ATP) and WTA players, serves as Eala’s build-up ahead of the Australian Open scheduled Jan. 18 to Feb. 1.
