Eala battles ex-Wimbledon titleholder

They may be on equal footing based on the latest WTA rankings but Markéta Vondroušová of the Czech Republic holds a huge advantage over Filipino sensation Alex Eala heading into their Canadian Open clash at the IGA Stadium.

Eala, 20, is going up against the 26-year-old Czech in Center Court at press time.

The Canadian Open will be the Rafael Nadal Academy graduate’s first competition after her short break in the Philippines.

On paper, both netters looked evenly-matched with Eala at No. 69 in the ratings.

Vondroušová is at No. 65 but her finest moment came when she topped Wimbledon in 2023, the only unseeded player to win it all in the Open era after beating Ons Jabeur of Turkey, 6-4, 6-4, in the final.

A win over Vondroušová will set Eala up for a rematch with Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine in the second round.

Eala and Kostyuk last met in the Italian Open last May where the Ukrainian delivered a 6-0, 6-1 win over the Filipino.

The Canadian Open will be part of Eala’s preparation for the US Open on 24 August at Flushing Meadows in New York City.

After her stint in the Canadian Open, Eala will be competing in the Cincinnati Open from 7 to 18 August at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio and the Monterrey Open from 18 to 23 August at the Club Sonoma in Monterrey, Mexico.