Alex Eala continued her winning ways against a very familiar opponent in Donna Vekic as she once again prevailed, 7-5, 6-4, at the WTA 500 Berlin Tennis Open on Wednesday evening.
Vekic, who recently won the HSBC Championships, has now been eliminated from the competition after winning her fifth WTA championship just a few days. Meanwhile, the win improved Eala’s head-to-head record against Vekic to a perfect 3-0 this year, including two victories on the WTA Tour at the ASB Classic and Kooyong Classic.
Eala Comes Back from a 0-2 Deficit
It was far from an easy start for the Filipina sensation.
Vekic came out firing and quickly grabbed a 2-0 lead after an early service break. But Eala never panicked as she displayed the poise and maturity that have become trademarks of her grass-court campaign. She answered with four straight games to completely flip the momentum.
The opening set turned into a tense tug-of-war as both players traded heavy baseline exchanges and clutch holds. The Croatian clawed her way back and even surged ahead, 5-4, threatening to steal the set. But the Filipina elevated her game when it mattered most.
The 21-year-old Eala held serve to level at 5-5 before delivering a crucial break in the 11th game. Moments later, she sealed the opener with fearless shot-making, capping a three-game burst that silenced the 29-year-old’s momentum.
Alex Eala Finishes Strong and Avoids a Third Set
Eala carried that confidence into the second set, immediately breaking Vekic’s serve to establish a 2-0 advantage.
While the Croatian veteran stayed within striking distance, Eala remained firmly in control behind a superb serving display.
The newly world-ranked No. 35 Filipina unleashed eight aces and repeatedly escaped danger with clutch play under pressure. Her composure shone brightest in the final game of the match when she stared down a daunting 0-40 deficit. Refusing to crumble, Eala saved four break points and slammed the door shut with fearless serving and aggressive winners.
By the end of the one-hour and 50-minute battle, Eala had piled up 25 winners while committing just 13 unforced errors—another sign of her growing confidence on grass.
The victory snapped Vekic’s five-match winning streak and further cemented Eala as one of the hottest players on the surface heading into Wimbledon.
Up Next: A Tough Task Against World No. 2 Elena Rybakina
Awaiting Alex Eala next is an even bigger challenge—a rematch against world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the Round of 16.
The Kazakh star previously defeated Eala in straight sets during their meeting at the Italian Open last month, but with the way the Filipina is playing on grass, a different result might happen in their next clash.
Alex Eala Next Game
Alex Eala vs. Elena Rybakina
Tournament: WTA 500 Berlin Tennis Open
Date: Thursday, June 18 at 11:30 p.m. (Time subject to change.)
Category: Singles (Round of 16, Main Draw)
