Alex Eala gets the chance to prove that her victory over Donna Vekic was not a fluke when they collide in the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne on Wednesday. 

Expect no less than an explosive match between two the stars as they face off once again after their previous match at the Auckland Open last week in New Zealand.

The 20-year-old Eala came back from a first-set deficit and prevailed over the 2024 Paris Olympics silver medalist, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, in the Round of 32.

Eala, a product of the Rafael Nadal Academy, admitted going up against the 29-year-old Vekic wasn’t a walk in a park.

“She is such an experienced player, super talented and definitely decorated,” Eala said about her four-time Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) champion rival’s brand of play.

“I really had a tough time today but I’m most happy about being able to compete and show up in a level like this, especially after a tough preseason and so many things that happened in the past month.”

Also present in the Kooyong Classic are hometown bet Priscilla Hon and four-time Grand Slam mixed doubles champion Daniela Hantuchová of Slovakia.

The Kooyong Classic will be the last competition for Eala and Vekic before the main draw of the Australian Open starts on 18 at Melbourne Park.

While Eala and Vekic will be playing in an exhibition tournament, their match up could be a preview of a bigger match ahead.

Both netters are slated to appear in the main draw of the Philippine Women’s Open starting on 26 January at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

If Eala and Vekic bomb out early in the first Grand Slam of the Year, they will travel to Manila to continue their journey and could cross paths once again. 

Vekic will have to brace for not only Eala but also thr Filipino fans who are expected to cheer the local bets competing in the WTA 125 event.

Also set to appear in the Philippine Women’s Open are No. 43  Wang Xinyu of China, No. 64 Solana Sierra of Argentina, No. 85 Lulu Sun of New Zealand and No. 87 Moyuka Uchijima of Japan. 

Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Tennielle Madis will also make her WTA debut on home soil as she and Eala gained wildcard entries.