Alex Eala reaching peak form ahead of 2026 Australian Open

MANILA, Philippines – Days before the first Grand Slam of the year, Alex Eala is sharpening her game at the Kooyong Classic, her final warm-up event for the Australian Open.

The 20-year-old Filipino sensation said her game is peaking just in time for the Australian Open on Sunday, January 18, where she will be pitted against some of the world’s best tennis players. 

“I’m feeling good. I want to say this is the best I’ve ever played,” Eala said after a straight-set win over Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic in the Kooyong Classic on Wednesday, January 14, just a week after also stunning the Croatian in the first-round win in the ASB Classic.

 “I think I had a good moment, so I hope I can keep the momentum going, keep working hard, and [hopefully] things will align for me in the Australian Open.”

Eala — who rose to a career-high world No. 49 this week — will face world No. 100 Alycia Parks in the Australian Open’s main draw. It will be Eala’s first pro tour meeting against the American, who reached a career-high No. 40 ranking in August 2023. 

Parks also played in the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, where Eala had an impressive run, reaching the semifinals before losing to China’s Wang Xinyu. 

The 25-year-old Parks lost in the first round of the Auckland tournament against Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto. 

But Parks still looms as a stiff test for Eala, with the American coming off a third-round run at the 2024 Australian Open.

Whoever wins will face world No. 19 Karolína Muchová of the Czech Republic or No. 37 Jaqueline Cristian of Romania in the second round. 

In the Kooyong Classic, Eala dominated Vekic, 6-3, 6-4, winning three straight games in the first set to dominate the Olympian, before overcoming her foe’s late rally in the second en route to a one- hour and 14-minute finish.

“I always have a tough time playing with her,” Eala said of Vekic in front of a predominantly Filipino crowd. “This has been so much fun, especially with the support I got here.”

“I think this is a good prep for Australia, but competing in this tournament is a highlight itself,” she added, emphasizing Vekic’s challenge. 

“Competing at this level consistently has definitely helped me find my game and grow my personality as a player.”

After the game, Vekic also lauded the Filipino crowd, who remained a constant factor in Eala’s matches.  

“Every time (we play), I feel like we’re playing in the center of the Philippines,” Vekic said. “There’s so many of you guys out there. There’s not even 1% as many Croatians as there are Filipinos… Maybe they’ll adopt me and support me in the Australian Open.”

Set to be backed by a strong Filipino crowd, the Australian Open remains the lone Grand Slam main draw missing from Eala’s résumé, after appearances at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open last year.

Eala also holds wildcards in both singles and doubles at the Philippine Women’s Open later this month, though her Manila stint hinges on how deep she goes in Australia. – Rappler.com