Eala repeats over Vekic for a strong start in Berlin Open

Sports

ALEX Eala showed that her previous win over Donna Vekic was no fluke as she prevailed in their Round of 32 duel in the 2026 Berlin Open in Germany on Wednesday, June 17.

The 21-year-old Filipina tennis star nipped Vekic, 7-5, 6-4, to seal her second win over the same Croatian opponent this year.

Eala defeated the higher-ranked Vekic in the ASB Classic last January, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Eala, a wildcard entry in this WTA 500 event, needed one hour and 50 minutes to dispose of the world No. 33 Vekic and arranged a gigantic Round of 16 match against world No. 2 and 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.

Rybakina will have the fresher legs in the crucial match after earning an opening round bye.

Determined to avenge her previous loss to Eala, Vekic raced to a 2-0 lead in the opening set.

Eala, currently ranked No. 35 in the world, answered with her own big run, winning four straight games to surge ahead, 4-2.

The 29-year-old Vekic charged back to claim the lead back, 5-4, only to see Eala respond with a flurry as the two-time Filipina champion escaped with the tight opening set win.

Eala sustained the momentum, breaking her opponent’s serve in the first game of the second set en route to securing the victory.(CCM)