Vekic hopes Philippine Women's Open inspires next generation of tennis stars

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Croatian tennis star Donna Vekic is betting that the first Philippine Women’s Open can help elevate tennis in the country and motivate the next generation of players following the path of Alex Eala.

“It is amazing to ride on the wave of Alex’s fame and what she brings to the country, making it more aware of tennis. I guess that many kids are now starting to play tennis because of her,” Vekic said on the eve of her women’s singles opening-round match.

Paris Olympic Games women’s singles silver medalist Vekic added, “Who knows? You may have another star (like Alex) soon.” She advised young players to work hard, be themselves, and enjoy the game.

Croatian star Donna Vekic emphasizes confidence, hard work, and enjoying the game for young players. [PSC photo]

Vekic’s match preparation and approach

Ranked No. 72 globally and seeded fourth, Vekic is set to face Japan’s Kyoko Nakamura, ranked 310, in one of the featured matches. She emphasized aggressive play and the importance of a strong first serve to maintain consistency and dominate the court.

“The conditions of the court are nice; it suits me. I am aware a lot of things have been done for all of this to come together. It is very humid, so it suits me too. I am looking forward to it,” she said.

Having lost twice recently to Eala — at the ASB Classic in Auckland and the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne — Vekic said she knows what to expect from the hometown favorite.

“Support for Eala has absolutely been insane. After the matches, I told the Filipino crowd maybe you’ll adopt me. And I feel that they have,” Vekic said.

“I enjoy a huge crowd. It is a nice atmosphere, even if they are not cheering for me. I am ready for that. But hopefully, the Filipinos will support me here, at least until I play Alex,” she added.

Building confidence and future goals

When asked about her relationship with Eala, Vekic said, “I think she has a good relationship with me. I don’t know her that well, but I think she is a really sweet girl.”

Although disappointed with her early exit from the Australian Open, the Croatian highlighted her goal in the Philippine Women’s Open: to play as many matches as possible, regain confidence, and return to top form.

“I had a really good off-season training, but now I hope to pick up some wins. It is important now to have some matches and get some confidence and be back where I was before,” she said.