UP NEXT: Italy.
Alexandra “Alex” Eala’s French Open buildup continues with two tournaments in Italy after a productive campaign in Spain.
Ms. Eala reached the second round of both the singles and doubles play in the Mutua Madrid Open, a 1000-level WTA tour, over the weekend but she’s not done just yet.
“That’s it for Madrid. I’m so grateful for my time here. I will be back stronger,” said the 20-year-old Filipina tennis pride.
Ms. Eala will have a week-long break before playing in the Internazionali BNL D’Italia (Italian Open) in Rome on May 5 to 17.
It’s another 1000-level tour for Ms. Eala, who is also listed in the WTA 125 Parma Ladies Open in the same country slated on May 12 to 17. Her availability in Parma City will depend on her campaign in Rome.
All of these clay stints serve as Ms. Eala’s final buildup for the queen of clay that’s the French Open on May 24 to June 7.
Ms. Eala, who’s a graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy also in Spain, has played in three clay tournaments so far to prepare well for that albeit she had not gotten past the second round in each of the campaigns.
Her most recent setback was a 6-2, 6-1 loss to world No. 21 and tournament No. 19 seed Elise Mertens of Belgium in Round 2 of the Madrid Open.
In the doubles, she and Turkish friend Zeynep Sonmez folded to the powerhouse duo of Katerina Siniakova of Czechia (world doubles No. 2) and Taylor Townsend of the United States (world No. 5), 6-1, 7-5, in the second round.
Ms. Eala also exited in the second round of the Upper Austria Ladies Linz Open in Austria and in the first round of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany.
The lefty sensation is currently ranked No. 44 in the world rankings, eyeing to climb the ladder anew after reaching a career-best of No. 29 last month. — John Bryan Ulanday
