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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala faces tall order vs two-time Grand Slam champ Rybakina

Alex Eala faces tall order vs two-time Grand Slam champ Rybakina

Published May 9, 2026 01:24 pm

At A Glance

  • Alex Eala shoots for the stars when she battles two-time Grand Slam singles champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the third round of the WTA 1000 Italian Open in Rome Sunday, May 10.
(Alex Eala IG post)
(Alex Eala IG post)
Alex Eala shoots for the stars when she battles two-time Grand Slam singles champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan in the third round of the WTA 1000 Italian Open in Rome Sunday, May 10.
Following her victory over Chinese Xinyu Wang, 6-4, 6-3, the 20-year-old Eala plunges into a grueling action, perhaps her toughest assignment this year, in Round of 32 against a much-experienced Rybakina.
The Kazakh bet, who dropped No. 1 Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka in Australian Open, toppled Greek Maria Sakkari, 6-4, 6-1, to meet the Filipina ace in the said round.
This would be the first time that Eala and Rybakina, two of high-ranking stars from the Asian region, set up a clash in any women’s professional tournament.
In terms of achievements, Eala owns one WTA 125 title at the senior level along with multiple trophies in the juniors circuit, while Rybakina, 26, boasts an impressive résumé that includes a WTA Finals crown and a recent Australian Open title, among her many accolades.
If stars align for Eala, she could arrange a rematch with Laura Siegemund, the German veteran who was once beaten by the charming lefty in Round of 64 of the Miami Open last March, or against Czech Karolina Pliskova.

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