Getting in the zone: Eala joins solid Kooyong Classic lineup

A familiar foe awaits Alex Eala as she lands in Melbourne for the Kooyong Classic starting on Tuesday at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.

Former No. 17 and Paris Olympics silver medalist Donna Vekic of Croatia will face the world No. 53 Eala as they join their final tournament before the main draw of the Australian Open starts on 18 January at Melbourne Park.

Also joining the three-day exhibition tournament are world No. 121 and local bet Priscilla Hon and multiple Grand Slam mixed doubles champion Daniela Hantuchova.

The 29-year-old Vekic was Eala’s first victim in the Auckland Open last week after a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory in the Round of 32 at the Manuka Doctor Arena in New Zealand.

Since the victory, Eala went on a solid win streak, sweeping past Croatian netter Petra Markovic, 6-0, 6-2 in the Last 16 and world No. 52 Magda Linetta of Poland, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarterfinal.

The Rafael Nadal Academy alumnus fell to world No. 57 Wang Xinyu of China, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6, in the semifinal,  ending her run in her first tournament of the year.

“‘Til my heart stops. So close yet so far. Thank you Auckland for the warmest hospitality to start the year. Truly felt the wairua,” Eala posted on social media after her Auckland Open stint.

Eala even made it to the semifinal of the women’s doubles with world No. 35 Iva Jovic of the United States, posting a 7-6, 6-1 statement win over world No. 13 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine and seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams in the Round of 16.

They breezed past the quarterfinal after a walkover win over Jesika Maleckova of the Czech Republic and Renata Zarazua of Mexico before suffering a 5-7, 3-6 loss to Chinese netters Xu Yifan and Yang Zhaoxuan in the semifinal.

Eala is expected to reach a new career-high ranking of No. 49 this week as she enters her fourth career Grand Slam.

She also pocketed $12,331 (P731,178) from the Auckland Open for making it far into the semis.

After the Kooyong Classic, Eala will have a few days of rest before she competes in the Australian Open.