Alexandra Eala, who is the fourth seed at the ASB Classic, will start off her 2026 season by facing Donna Vekic in the first round of the WTA 250 event. Whoever comes out on top, will take on either Camila Osorio or Petra Marčinko in the second round.
Eala won 13 out of 26 main-draw matches in 2025 but she made her mark in 2025 with a surprising run to the Miami Open semifinals, defeating Iga Świątek in the process. She ended her season at the Hong Kong Open after a second-round exit. The Filipino started 2025 as the World No. 147 and is currently ranked 53rd in the world.
Donna Vekić, on the other hand, suffered a massive ranking dip last year, as she started ranked 19th in the world but eventually slipped to 71st. The Croat won only 14 out of 37 matches in 2025, with her only quarterfinal appearance coming in her final tournament in Chennai.
Alexandra Eala vs. Donna Vekić Match Details
Date: Jan. 6, 2026
Tournament: ASB Classic 2026
Round: First Round (Round of 32)
Venue: ASB Tennis Centre, Auckland, New Zealand
Category: WTA 250
Surface: Hard
Live Telecast: Tennis Channel, TSN, Sky Sports
Eala vs. Vekić Head-to-Head
The two have not had any prior encounters on the WTA Tour, so their head-to-head currently stands at 0-0.
MORE: Alexandra Eala Reveals How Rafael Nadal Gave Her an Unforgettable Memory with ‘Special’ Gesture
Eala vs. Vekić Prediction
Eala is the higher ranked player and had a considerably better tour-level win percentage in 2025 compared to Vekić. However, the Croat has produced sme impressive performances throughout her career and has had moments of resurgence. So, expect her to make things difficult for Eala.
The Filipino has shown that she has power but can also defend well and is never short of stamina. She will be eager to take the game by the jugular and dictate points from the start. Vekić biggest edge of Eala is her serve. The Croat produced 14 double-faults from three matches during her last tournament but also served 19 aces. She will have to read every situation of the match properly in order to get the better of her young opponent.
Vekić is not a player who can be taken lightly but Eala has shown that she is someone who is set to become one of tennis’ big stars in forthcoming years. While the 20-year-old still needs more matches on the WTA Tour to showcase her potential, there is a very good chance of her toppling Vekić and reaching the second round of the ASB Classic.
