Donna Vekic arrived in Manila expecting tough matches and steamy conditions. What she did not anticipate was being swept up in a wave of affection from Filipino fans riding high on the meteoric rise of Alex Eala — a wave the Croatian star is happily surfing as one of the most recognizable names at the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open.
For Vekic, the country’s first-ever WTA 125 tournament represents more than another stop on the tour. It is a front-row seat to a tennis boom fueled by Eala’s rapid ascent, one that has transformed the sport’s profile almost overnight and created an atmosphere unlike anything she has experienced elsewhere.
“It is amazing to ride on the wave of Alex’s fame and what she brings to the country, making it more aware of tennis. I guess that many kids are now starting to play tennis because of her,” Vekic said on Monday, a day before her singles debut in Manila.
The Paris Olympic Games women’s singles silver medalist believes the timing of the Philippine Women’s Open could not be better, with local excitement around Eala translating into packed stands, loud crowds, and unprecedented visibility for the sport.
“Who knows? You may have another star (like Alex) soon,” she added, pointing to the long-term impact of staging a WTA event in the country, backed by the Philippine Sports Commission.
Vekic, currently ranked No. 72 in the world and seeded fourth in the tournament, is set to face Japan’s Kyoko Nakamura in one of Tuesday’s featured matches. While her focus remains firmly on performance, she has clearly taken notice of the unique energy surrounding the event — and the warmth of Filipino fans who have embraced her as one of their own.
Having lost to Eala in back-to-back meetings at the ASB Classic in Auckland and the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne, Vekic knows exactly what kind of support the Filipina star commands.
“Support for Eala has absolutely been insane. After the matches, I told (the Filipino crowd) maybe you’ll adopt me. And I feel that they have,” she said, smiling at the memory.
Rather than being rattled by partisan crowds, Vekic thrives on the noise and intensity that come with big audiences.
“I enjoy a huge crowd. It is a nice atmosphere, even if they are not cheering for me. I am ready for that. But hopefully, the Filipinos will support me here, at least until I play Alex,” she mused.
On court, Vekic is eager to impose her aggressive style, leaning on a strong first serve and dictating play whenever possible.
“I am hoping to play aggressive. A good first serve helps my game, and it helps me a lot to be more consistent. Yeah [I aim] to dominate the court with my play,” she said.
She has also been impressed by the tournament setup and the playing conditions in Manila, noting that the environment suits her game well.
“Conditions of the court are nice, it suits me. I am aware that a lot of things have been done for all of this to come together. It is very humid, so it suits me, too. I am looking forward to it,” Vekic said.
While her Australian Open campaign ended earlier than she hoped, Vekic views the Philippine Women’s Open as a crucial opportunity to rebuild momentum and confidence.
“I had a really good off-season training, but now I hope to pick up some wins. It is important now to have some matches and get some confidence and be back where I was before,” she said, adding that her main objective is “to play as many matches as possible.”
In a tournament defined by Alex Eala’s homecoming, Vekic has emerged as an unexpected crowd favorite — happily “adopted” by Filipino fans and relishing every moment of the love, noise, and passion that have turned Manila into one of the liveliest stops on the women’s tour.