World No. 70 Alex Eala braces for Italian Open debut, possible No. 1 Sabalenka clash
(1st UPDATE) The world tour continues for Alex Eala as the new WTA world No. 70 tennis star takes on the clay courts of the Italian Open, where world No. 2 Iga Swiatek and No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka await anew for fierce new challenges
MANILA, Philippines – A small chance to potentially face Iga Swiatek a third time, to go up against the top players in the world, and to play for the first time at the famed Foro Italico in Rome, Italy. A new world and playground awaits for Alex Eala.
The 19-year-old tennis sensation will be among the players booked for automatic spots in the main draw of the last WTA 1000 event before the French Open when she makes her maiden appearance at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, or the Italian Open, set for Tuesday, May 6.
Now world No. 70 after the latest report on Monday, May 5, Eala earned a berth in the main draw by virtue of her world ranking, unlike in the last two WTA 1000 events, the Miami Open and the Madrid Open, when she was given wildcard spots that allowed her passage to the main draw.
A big challenge immediately awaits Eala in the first round in the form of world No. 27 Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, a former ATX (Austin, Texas) Open singles champion who reached as high as world No. 16 on June 2024.
Sixty-eight of the top 70 players in the world are slated to join the two-week event at the outdoor clay courts in Rome. Though Eala was 72nd in the world two weeks ago, two players withdrew for various reasons, thus giving her the spot.
