Marta Kostyuk dusts aside Alexandra Eala in Rome opener, will face Daria Kasatkina next
Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk roundly defeated Filipina tennis phenom Alexandra Eala 6–0, 6–1, Wednesday (7 May) in the opening round of the 2025 Italian Open.
It was the first meeting between Kostyuk, 22, and the 19-year-old Eala.
The teenager has been enjoying a breakout 2025, having earned wins over top-10 players Madison Keys and Iga Świątekin a run to the Miami Open semi-finals in late March.
It’s earned her fans around the world – even this week in Rome.
“I didn’t expect such a big Filipino population here in Rome,” Eala said, according to Tennis.com. “But even just walking the streets, I’ve run into Filipinos five times already. When we walk in the streets, you know when you’re seeing another Filipino!
“It’s such a blessing, of course, to have such a big community. So many places feel like home because of that.”
But on Wednesday, she didn’t seem at home as she struggled to adjust to Rome’s heavy clay on Grand Stand Arena at Foro Italico, where her opening-round loss came in just 62 minutes.
Kostyuk moves into the second round, where she’ll face Australia’s Daria Kasatkina. Kasatkina, the world No.15, leads their head-to-head 4-2.
This isn’t the end for Eala in Rome. She’ll be joining forces with another talented youngster – American Coco Gauff – as a doubles partner later in the tournament.
