• Donna Vekic waited out a rain delay at the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open with a pedicure.
  • After play resumed at Rizal Memorial, she beat Kyoka Okamura 6-2, 6-2 to reach the Round of 16.
  • The 29-year-old Croat said she felt welcomed by Filipino fans and hopes to stay in the tournament all week.

Rain delay, then a composed performance

MANILA — Matches at the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open were pushed back after rain at Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, but Donna Vekic turned the downtime into a relaxed pre-match routine before advancing comfortably to the Round of 16.

How she spent the wait

With the 2 p.m. schedule delayed until about 5 p.m., Vekic passed the time by watching the Australian Open on TV, having a pedicure, eating and chatting with friends. The 29-year-old Croatian remained focused despite the long wait.

“It was a long wait today, but I was watching some tennis in Australia. I had a pedicure, I was eating some food and talking to some friends, trying to stay relaxed but focused,” Vekic said after the match.

Decisive win after the delay

Once play resumed, Vekic wasted little time. She beat Japan’s Kyoka Okamura 6-2, 6-2, combining steady serving with clean ball striking to move into the tournament’s last 16.

The match showed Vekic’s ability to stay mentally ready despite interruptions — a key skill in tournaments affected by weather.

Welcomed by Filipino fans

Vekic has drawn warm support from local spectators since arriving in Manila, with fans cheering each time she scored against Okamura. The crowd’s energy was met with smiles from the Croatian, who has been embraced as an “adopted Filipina” by some supporters.

“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 added.

Looking ahead

Vekic’s focus now turns to advancing further in the WTA 125 event. Her composed response to a disrupted schedule — from a casual pedicure to a controlled victory — underlines her experience and tournament readiness.

As weather remains a factor in outdoor tournaments, Vekic’s approach offers a simple blueprint: stay relaxed, stay focused, and be ready when play resumes.

Match result: Donna Vekic d. Kyoka Okamura 6-2, 6-2 — WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Image Referance: https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/1/28/here-s-how-adopted-filipina-donna-vekic-spent-her-afternoon-while-waiting-for-pwo-match-0020