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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala, Venus Williams in potential QF clash in Auckland

Alex Eala, Venus Williams in potential QF clash in Auckland

Published Jan 3, 2026 03:12 pm

At A Glance

  • Based on the draw released on Saturday, Jan. 3, the 20-year-old Eala and the American veteran are bracketed in the lower half, where they could meet later in the tournament.
Venus Willams, left, and Alex Eala. (File Photo/AP)
Venus Willams, left, and Alex Eala. (File Photo/AP)
A potential quarterfinal clash looms between Alex Eala and former world No. 1 Venus Williams in the 2026 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zeland.
Based on the draw released on Saturday, Jan. 3, the 20-year-old Eala and the American veteran are bracketed in the lower half, where they could meet later in the tournament.
Eala, the fourth seed in the WTA 250 event, is set to face 2023 Australian Open quarterfinalist Donna Vekic in the opening round, while 45-year-old Venus Williams, a seven-time Grand Slam singles champion who earned a wildcard berth here ahead of her comeback at the Australian Open in a few weeks, will take on fifth seed Magda Linette.
A win for Eala would set up a next-round clash with the winner of the Camila Osorio vs. Petra Marcinko match, while Williams would face the victor between Alycia Park and Elisabeth Cocciaretto.
Should both advance, they would meet in the quarters.
But first things first for Eala: facing Vekic.
Eala has never met the 29-year-old Croatian veteran, who boasts of four career titles and a semifinal stint at the 2024 Wimbledon. A silver medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics, Vekic is currently ranked No. 69, though she ranked as high as No. 17 early last year.
While the Eala-Williams singles showdown has yet to happen, the two athletes would first be facing in the first-round doubles with their respective partners on Monday, Jan. 5.
Eala is teaming up with American teenager Iva Jovic, while Williams is joining forces with another veteran in Ukraininan Elina Svitolina.
In the doubles, Williams was also legend. She won 14 Grand Slam doubles titles, all with sister Serena Williams.
Svitolina, however, has two career doubles titles while also boasting of three semifinal appearances in the Grand Slam singles.
The tournament serves as a start of the Australian Open swing for Eala, whose current ranking of No. 53, earned her a main draw entry for the first time.
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