WTA world No. 72 Donna Vekić shared her positive experience staying in the Philippines as she makes her first appearance at the Philippine Women’s Open, expressing appreciation for the warm reception she has received from local fans.
Speaking to reporters at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, the Croatian tennis star said she immediately felt the strong support of Filipino spectators, which she first noticed during her recent matches against Filipina ace Alex Eala overseas.
“I’m really happy to be here,” Vekić said. “Since I played her in Auckland and then in Melbourne for an exhibition, the support for Alex has been absolutely insane. After our match in Kooyong, I even joked that maybe you guys would adopt me—and I definitely feel like you have. I have felt the support since coming here.”
Vekić has faced Eala twice on tour, losing both matches, but she spoke highly of the young Filipina despite not knowing her personally.
“I don’t know her that well, but she seems like a really sweet girl,” Vekić said. “She’s a good athlete, and I think we have a good relationship.”
‘A special career moment’
The Philippine Women’s Open marks Vekić’s first time playing in the country, something she described as a special moment in her career, particularly as the tournament is being held for the first time.
“It’s great to see new tournaments coming up in new countries,” she said.
“It’s my first time in the Philippines, and I’ve always wanted to visit even as a tourist. It’s great to see women’s tennis being played here, and hopefully this tournament becomes even bigger in the future.”
Vekić also gave positive feedback on the newly refurbished Rizal Memorial Tennis Courts, noting that the conditions suit her style of play.
“I heard a lot of work was done in the last couple of weeks to make this happen,” she said. “The courts are playing nice. It’s very humid, and that usually suits my game, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Playing with Style
Beyond tennis, Vekić also shared her latest venture off the court—the launch of her jewelry brand, Dash Diamonds, which she co-founded with a friend.
“It’s a different kind of pressure, but it’s fun,” she said. “I spend most of my time in sports clothes, so wearing jewelry makes me feel a bit more stylish and elegant.”
When asked for a message to young Filipina netters aspiring to follow in her footsteps, Vekić kept her advice simple.
“Just try to have fun,” she said. “If they enjoy being on the court, they’ll fall in love with the sport. And of course, keep working hard.”
The Croatian tennis player is set to debut her PH Women’s Open game on Tuesday, January 27 against Japanese athlete, Kyoka Okamura at the Rizal Memorial tennis courts.
