People are like stained – glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.
— Swiss-American psychiatrist Elizabeth Kubler Ross
CERTAINLY ONE OF the prettiest faces in tennis today, Croatian netter Donna Vekic has won the hearts of Filipino fans as seen in the unexpected support given to her by the local crowd that cheered for her in her Philippine Women’s Open debut at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum Tennis Center.
The Monaco-based world’s number 70, as of December 2025, dazzled the Filipino crowd as she swept opposition from Japanese rival Kyoka Okamura (Ranking No. 181), 6-2, 6-2, amid a rain delay.
Filipinos had grown accustomed to Vekic, who recently lost to local rising star Alexandra “Alex” Eala twice in the Auckland Savings Bank (ASB) Classic in New Zealand and the Kooyong exhibition in Melbourne earlier this month.
“Filipinos had grown accustomed to Vekic, who recently lost to local rising star Alexandra “Alex” Eala twice in the Auckland Savings Bank (ASB) Classic in New Zealand and the Kooyong exhibition in Melbourne earlier this month.
Locals have been playfully calling the 29-year-old Vekic ‘Tita Donna’ on social media.”
Locals have been playfully calling the 29-year-old Vekic ‘Tita Donna’ on social media.
“It’s very nice. I feel very welcomed, and hopefully I can stay here the whole week because it’s really a big pleasure playing in front of them,” she enthused in an interview by the media.
“It was great to play today. The crowd was amazing and it was a good match, so I’m really happy with the performanc,” she added, flashing her beautiful smile that has captivated most Filipinos.
“I didn’t have that many wins and matches recently, so every win is huge for me right now. This is why I’m here, to try to get as many matches as possible and to build some confidence.”
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