Alex Eala up against doubles world No. 1 in Wuhan Open; winner faces Sabalenka next

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FOCUSED. Alex Eala gets ready to receive during the 2024 Guadalajara Open.

If Alex Eala pulls off an upset over world No. 1 doubles player Katerina Siniakova in the Wuhan Open, it doesn’t get any easier for the Filipina teen as three-time Grand Slam champion and singles world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka awaits

MANILA, Philippines – A high-stakes match can lead to high-stakes rewards.

This is what awaits Alex Eala as she opens her campaign in the WTA Wuhan Open set from October 7 to 13 at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre in the Hubei Province of China.

The 19-year-old Eala, one of four players given wildcard slots to the main draw, will be the lowest-ranked bet at No. 150 in the world.

Other wildcard entries include world No. 60 Katie Volynets of the United States, No. 80 Jaqueline Cristian of Romania, and No. 95 hometown bet Wang Xiyu.

In Eala’s opening-round match on Monday, October 7, the Filipina teen standout will be up against Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic, the No. 1 doubles player in the world.

The 28-year-old Siniakova, one of the most fancied opponents the Filipina will face in her young pro career, claimed the top doubles ranking spot after emerging champion in the French Open and Wimbledon this year, the third time she has won both Grand Slam events.

The Czech, also a two-time doubles champion of the Australian Open and the 2022 US Open doubles winner, owns two Olympic gold medals — claiming the first in women’s double in Tokyo and the second in mixed doubles in Paris.

With Eala already standing as a clear underdog, Siniakova also proves to be an accomplished singles player.

Siniakova bagged five titles in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour and reached a career-high singles ranking of 27th in the world just this June. Last August, she reached the semifinals of the WTA 250 Tennis in the Land tournament in Cleveland.

Currently ranked 37th in the world in women’s singles, Siniakova is known for her strong baseline game coupled with her solid serves and net play.

She holds victories over former world No.1 players Naomi Osaka, Maria Sharapova, Garbiñe Muguruza, and Angelique Kerber.

The winner of the Eala-Siniakova first-round encounter will have the unenviable task of battling top seed and 2024 Australian Open and US Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in the second round.

Aside from the two-time defending champion Sabalenka, this year’s edition features seven of the top 10 players in the world.

The Wuhan Open is a WTA 1000 event, just slightly lower in terms of points and prestige than the Grand Slams and the WTA Finals.

Eala last saw action almost a month ago in the 2024 Guadalajara Open Akron in Mexico, where she bowed out against Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic, 6-2, 6-2, in the opening round of the main draw, right after winning two qualifying matches. – Rappler.com

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