Eala to Compete in Madrid Open Following Miami Breakthrough

Madrid, Spain – Following a remarkable performance at the Miami Open, 19-year-old Alex Eala is set to compete at the Madrid Open, marking her return to WTA 1000 action. This tournament will be Eala’s first WTA-level event since reaching the semi-finals in Miami earlier this year.

Eala’s Miami journey included victories over established players, such as Grand Slam winners Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys, finally defeating world No. 2 Iga Swiatek to secure her spot in the last four. This success catapulted Eala into the top 100 of the WTA Rankings for the first time, currently holding a career-high ranking of No. 72.

In Madrid, Eala has a chance of facing Swiatek again, who is seeded for the second round, provided Eala can overcome her first-round opponent, Viktoriya Tomova. The Filipina did not have a high enough ranking initially to qualify for the Madrid main draw but has received a wildcard entry.

Eala’s connection to the Madrid Open is facilitated by IMG, her management group, which manages several top players and runs the tournament. Many IMG players typically receive wildcards into various draws, similar to the Miami Open where Eala also gained entry.

This marks Eala’s third consecutive year competing in Madrid. Despite a tough debut in 2023, where she lost to Tatjana Maria, she rebounded last year by securing her first WTA 1000 match win against Lesia Tsurenko before being eliminated by 27th seed Sorana Cirstea.

Eala’s opening match in this year’s tournament against Tomova presents a challenging yet potentially winnable test. Although just eight spots apart in the WTA Rankings, Tomova boasts significantly more experience with 18 previous main draw appearances in WTA 1000 events.

World No. 64 Tomova reached a career-high ranking of 46 in July 2022 and won the Chicago Challenger last year, but has yet to reach a WTA final. This match will be their first encounter, setting the stage for an exciting clash.