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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Eala faces Parks, reunites with Venus in busy Toronto opener

Eala faces Parks, reunites with Venus in busy Toronto opener

Published Aug 5, 2026 02:03 pm

At A Glance

  • Fresh off her breakthrough title at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C. last Monday, Aug. 4, the Filipina tennis sensation is seeking to carry her hot form and to turn the tables on the American in their opening-round clash set no earlier than 8:10 a.m. (PH time).
Alex Eala greets fans as she arrives in Toronto for the National Bank Open. (WTA)
Alex Eala greets fans as she arrives in Toronto for the National Bank Open. (WTA)
Alex Eala hopes to keep her momentum rolling on the WTA Tour as she opens her National Bank Open campaign against familiar foe Alycia Parks in Toronto, Canada, on Thursday, Aug. 6 (Philippine time).
Fresh off her breakthrough title at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C. last Monday, Aug. 4, the Filipina tennis sensation is seeking to carry her hot form and to turn the tables on the American in their opening-round clash set no earlier than 8:10 a.m. (PH time).
It would be a busy day for Eala as she is also expected to return not earlier than 10 p.m. with tennis icon Venus Williams as they reunite in the doubles and clash with Liudmila Samsonova and Miyu Kato in the first round.
Eala’s first and only meeting against Parks was at the 2026 Australian Open last January, where the Filipina lost, 0-6, 6-3, 6-2.
But much has changed since then, with both players having made significant strides in the rankings. Eala surged from No. 49 at the time to career-high No. 20 this week, while Parks has also improved, climbing from No. 99 to No. 71.
More than extending her impressive run on Tour and redeeming herself against Parks, Eala is more excited to play before an expected big crowd.
“I’ve been told that it’s going to be a full house (tomorrow). So, I’m really very excited to see and experience the atmosphere,” Eala said in a press briefing.
“It’s nice to see that the Filipino community is really showing up and they’re enjoying tennis and hopefully, it will help grow the sport as well. And in the end, give them something, a new experience and a joyful experience,” she added.
Eala is also expected to be cautious of what lies ahead deeper in the bracket, where she is in the lower half of the draw that has reigning Wimbledon champion and sixth seed Linda Noskova, No. 21 Marie Bouzkova, No. 12 Belinda Bencic, qualifier Sloane Stephens, and good friend No. 13 Iva Jovic, to name a few.

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Alex Eala Alycia Parks National Bank Open Venus Williams
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