MELBOURNE — Filipino tennis ace Alexandra “Alex” Eala delivered a statement victory on grass after defeating Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic in straight sets to rule the women’s singles of the 35th Kooyong Classic, sharpening her form just days before the Australian Open.
The 20-year-old Eala swept past the Croatian standout, 6–3, 6–4, in their rematch at the Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club to claim the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Trophy, her sixth women’s singles title in the annual exhibition tournament.
Kooyong Classic organizers confirmed Eala’s championship through a social media announcement, releasing photos of the Filipina receiving the trophy named after Australian tennis legend Evonne Goolagong Cawley.
“We are happy to announce the winner of the Evonne Goolagong Cawley Trophy is Alexandra Eala,” the Kooyong Classic said. “Congratulations to our women’s 2026 Kooyong Classic Champion.”
Now in its 35th year, the Kooyong Classic has featured a women’s singles competition for only six editions, with Eala emerging as one of its most notable champions in the tournament’s relatively young women’s division.
Eala topped a competitive field that, in previous editions, included former WTA world No. 9 Mirra Andreeva of Russia, former world No. 17 and current No. 70 Vekic, former world No. 4 and current world No. 10 Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, former world No. 12 Yanina Wickmayer of Belgium, and former world No. 28 Rachel McQuillan of Australia.
Her Kooyong triumph provides valuable momentum as Eala continues her buildup for the upcoming Australian Open, reinforcing her growing reputation as one of the Philippines’ brightest tennis prospects./PN
