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Alex Eala makes French Open debut vs Colombian

Sports

Alex Eala makes French Open debut vs Colombian

By Mark Rey Montejo

At A Glance

Alex Eala faces Colombia's Emiliana Arango in the main draw of the 2025 French Open on Sunday, May 25

Alex Eala (Eala's FB post)

Alex Eala (Eala's FB post)

Alex Eala faces Colombia's Emiliana Arango in the main draw of the 2025 French Open on Sunday, May 25.

Eala, who is celebrating her 20th birthday this Friday, May 23, eyes a fitting present for herself and a sweet revenge against her fellow unseeded Arango, who beat her, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, in last year’s Miami Open qualifiers.

If Eala, No. 69 in the WTA rankings, prevails over the world No. 88 Arango, she might arrange a second-round encounter against No. 8 seed Qinwen Zheng of China.

Zheng, for her part, must outlast Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova before she can advance and battle the Filipina ace.

It can be remembered that Eala and Zheng once fought in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games where the former succumbed in three sets, 1-6, 7-6 (5), 3-6, but managed to end the Philippines' 17-year medal drought in tennis with a bronze in the quadrennial meet.

Among the favorites in the clay tournament is reigning champion Iga Swiatek who is trying to clinch her fourth consecutive crown.

Other strong contenders are Italian Jasmine Paolini, British Emma Raducanu, Russian wonder Mirra Andreeva, Americans Coco Gauff, Emma Navarro, Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, Japan’s Naomi Osaka, and No. 1 seed Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka.

Eala seeks a better finish this time after suffering early exits in Madrid Open and Italian Open.

Related Tags

Alex Eala French Open Iga Swiatek Aryna Sabalenka Zheng Qinwen

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