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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider What's next for Alex Eala?

What's next for Alex Eala?

Published Apr 27, 2026 01:43 pm

At A Glance

  • The 20-year-old Filipina standout has opted to skip this week's WTA125 Catalonia Open, choosing instead to fine-tune her preparation for the higher-stakes tournament in the Italian capital following her latest performance at the Mutua Madrid Open, another WTA 1000 tournament.
Alex Eala gears up for another tough tournament next week. (File Photo/ AP)
Alex Eala gears up for another tough tournament next week. (File Photo/ AP)
Alex Eala is eyeing a much-needed breakthrough on clay as she turns her focus to the upcoming WTA 1000 event in Rome slated on May 5 to 17.
The 20-year-old Filipina standout has opted to skip this week’s WTA125 Catalonia Open, choosing instead to fine-tune her preparation for the higher-stakes tournament in the Italian capital following her latest performance at the Mutua Madrid Open, another WTA 1000 tournament.
In Madrid, Eala absorbed another quick exit, bowing in the second round to 19th seed Elise Mertens, 6-2, 6-1, while also losing in the doubles second round with Turkish partner Zeynep Sonmez.
So far, the world No. 44 Eala has yet to break past the second round after her three clay court outings this season.
She kicked off her campaign at the WTA 500 Linz Open in Austria early this month, but bowed out in the second round to Grand Slam champion Jelena Ostepenko, 6-4, 7-5.
She next saw action at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, another WTA 500 event, in Stuttgart, Germany, where she lost in the first round to Fil-Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 6-1, 6-4.
Eala hopes the one-week recovery and training would be enough for her in time for Rome as she will be up for another tough challenge with a star-studded field that has top 10 players Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Amanda Anisinova, Elena Svitolina, Mirra Andreeva, Jasmine Paolini, Victoria Mboko.
Grand Slam champions Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys and Ostapenko are also in the initial player list as of Monday, April 27.
Last year, Eala also competed at the Italian Open where she lost in the first round to Marta Kostyuk in straight sets.
She, however, teamed up with Gauff in the doubles and reached the quarterfinals, where they lost to second seed Sara Errani and Paolini.

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Alex Eala WTA WTA 1000 Italian Open Rome
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