Alex Eala starts Abu Dhabi Open run, face familiar foe in Zeynep Sonmez

 

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates â€” No rest for Filipina star Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala as she begins her campaign today in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open by facing world’s number 112 (as of January 19) Zeynep Sonmez of Türkiye in singles match and then enters the doubles with Indonesian Janice Tjien (ranked no. 47).

The 20-year-old lass from Quezon City immediately left for the UAE after reaching only the quarterfinals of the first-ever WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open due to her lamentable loss to eventual champion Camila Osorio of Colombia. 

Eala and Sonmez have met twice before dating back to their International Tennis Federation (ITF) days, first crossing paths at ITF France 22A in November 2023 and followed by another encounter at the Eastbourne Open in June last year, both of which the Filipina emerged victorious in their singles meetings.

The two netters have likewise shared the hardcourt as doubles opponents, competing in ITF Luxembourg in November 2023 and at ITF Slovakia the following year.

In addition to her singles campaign, Eala will also see action in doubles, teaming up with fellow Southeast Asian standout Janice Tjen. The pair will open their run against Canadian Leylah Fernandez (ranked no. 23), who has Filipino heritage, and France’s Kristina Mladenovic (ranked no. 61 in doubles).