PARIS, France — Following a heartbreaking loss in opening action at the Internationaux de Strasbourg, Filipina sensation Alexandra “Alex” Eala vows to get back on track and focus her full attention on preparations for the upcoming French Open, where she will compete in the singles and doubles events.
The country’s rising star suffered defeat at the hands of Ukrainian qualifier Oleksandra Oliynykova, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6, who showed grit by coming from behind after dropping the first set to stage a rally and win the second and third sets.
The 20-year-old Filipina started strong, but Oliynykova mounted a comeback in the second set to even the match. In the deciding set, momentum and a bit of luck favored the Ukrainian, who eventually closed out the match after more than two and a half hours of play.
Despite the setback, Eala, who celebrates her 21st birthday on the 23rd of the month, will not go home empty-handed as she grabbed €17,310, or over ₱1.2 million, in prize money for her effort in the Strasbourg tourney.
She needs to quickly sharpen her game as she braces for tougher competition in this year’s French Open, which is scheduled to begin next week. The tournament, famous for its iconic red clay courts, takes place at the Stade Roland-Garros in the French capital, with main draw matches running from May 24 through June 7, 2026.
The Philippines’ pride is wasting no time in returning to training to correct the errors from her recent matches. She is set to compete in both the singles and doubles events, partnering with her friend, Canadian world No. 9 Victoria Mboko.
Despite her early exit in Strasbourg, Eala climbed to No. 35 in the WTA live rankings. She currently holds the No. 38 spot in the official rankings, with several players dropping after failing to defend their points.