Alex Eala gets an early test when she opens her season against familiar foes in the Auckland Open at the ASB Tennis Center in Auckland, New Zealand starting 5 January.

Indonesian rising Star Janice Tjen as well as Panna Udvardy of Hungary and Katie Boulder of Great Britain are out to challenge the 20-year-old Eala in this prestigious Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 250 event that will serve as her warmup for the Australian Open.

Tjen is coming in as the fifth seed while Udvardy is at No. 21.

Meanwhile, Boulter will enter the event as a wildcard along with Sloane Stephens and former world No. 1 Venus Williams of the United States.

Eala, a gold medalist in the SEA Games, will compete as the fourth seed. Right now, she is taking a break and will be back in action on 27 December at the MGM Macau Tennis Masters in Macau.

In a previous statement, the prized Filipina netter stressed that she is not looking to far into her season. In fact, she’s taking every tournament step by step with the Australian Open on top of her list.

“I am taking it step by step and my next goal is to prepare for the Australian Open,” Eala said shortly after becoming only the third Filipina to win a women’s singles event title behind Pia Tamayo in the 1981 Manila Games and Maricris Fernandez-Gentz in the 1999 Bandar Seri Begawan edition.

“I’ll have time to enjoy this win (SEA Games gold medal) then I will prepare again.”

Eala posted mixed results against these familiar foes.

Against her old friend Tjen, Eala suffered a 4-6, 1-6 loss in the quarterfinals of the Sao Paulo Open in Brazil last September. Eala could have a chance to avenge that setback in the recent 33rd Southeast Asian Games but the world No. 54 quit in the semifinals against Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand due to breathing issues, paving the way for the Filipina to win the gold medal.

Meanwhile, Eala defeated Udvardy, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, to clinch the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico last September, her first WTA title in her professional career.

Boulter also faced Eala in the Round of 32 of the Hong Kong Open but retired due to an injury.