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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala faces French qualifier at the start of Sao Paulo Open

Alex Eala faces French qualifier at the start of Sao Paulo Open

Published Sep 9, 2025 01:36 pm

At A Glance

  • Riding high from her historic maiden Women's Tennis Association (WTA) title at the Guadalajara Open over the weekend, the 20-year-old Eala is expected to come out more determined as she aims to build on her breakthrough performance and continue her climb in the world rankings.
Alex Eala continues her WTA campaign at the Sao Paulo Open this week. (File Photo/AP)
Alex Eala continues her WTA campaign at the Sao Paulo Open this week. (File Photo/AP)
Alex Eala looks to carry over the momentum from her recent tournament success as she takes on French qualifier Yasmine Mansouri in the opening round of the Sao Paulo Open in Brazil on Wednesday, Sept. 10 (Philippine time).
Riding high from her historic maiden Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) title at the Guadalajara Open over the weekend, the 20-year-old Eala is expected to come out more determined as she aims to build on her breakthrough performance and continue her climb in the world rankings.
Eala is seeded third in the said WTA250 tournament that offers more ranking points than the WTA125-level Guadalajara event, giving her significant opportunity to gain more accolades.
Backed by her recent feat and higher ranking at No. 61, Eala holds the advantage against Mansouri on paper. The 24-year-old Frenchwoman is currently ranked No. 380 in the world, having reached a career-high No. 314 last February.
Mansouri has also yet to win a WTA crown, although she has won five singles and 14 doubles titles in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) circuit.
In this tournament, Mansouri had to go through the qualifiers, winning over local contenders Ana Cruz (6-3, 6-2) and Thaisa Grana Pedretti (6-2, 6-4) to earn a spot in the main draw.
Eala, meanwhile, owns five ITF singles and three doubles titles, and has amassed more experience on the WTA Tour. She has competed -- and won -- against some of the world’s top players, including Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek.
Still, Eala is unlikely to take Mansouri lightly, having learned from past upsets against lower-ranked opponents.
The tournament also saw some upset wins this early, including Indonesian Janice Tjen’s 6-2, 6-3 shock victory over seventh seed Leolia Jeanjean.
Three-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist and fourth seed Ajla Tomljanovic also retired from her match against Victoria Rodriguez after trailing 4-6, 2-4.
A victory for Eala would set her up a Round of 16 meeting with Argentinean Julia Riera, who edged Vitalia Diatchenko, 6-3, 7-6 (1).
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