Rome: Filipina tennis player Alex Eala has arrived in Rome to commence her preparations for the 2026 Italian Open, which will take place from May 5-17 at Foro Italico. This clay-court tournament, officially known as the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, is a crucial part of Eala's schedule as she gears up for the French Open, slated for May 18 to June 7.
According to Philippines News Agency, the 2025 edition of the Italian Open saw Eala face a challenging match against Ukraine's Marta Kostyuk, resulting in a first-round exit in the women's singles with scores of 6-0, 6-1. However, she found success in the doubles competition, reaching the quarterfinals alongside her partner Coco Gauff.
The 2026 Italian Open will feature prominent players such as Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Elena Rybakina, and Coco Gauff. Eala aims to recover from her recent performance at the Madrid Open, where she progressed to the singles' second round but was defeated by 19th seed Elise Mertens.
Despite the recent loss, Eala's performance in Madrid contributed to her climbing two spots in the international rankings, securing the No. 42 position in the latest WTA rankings.
