Kostyuk Dominates Eala in First Round at 2025 Italian Open

Rome, Italy – In a stunning display of skill and determination, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk decisively defeated rising star Alexandra Eala of the Philippines 6–0, 6–1 in the opening round of the 2025 Italian Open on Wednesday, May 7.

The match, held at the Grand Stand Arena, marked the first encounter between the two players. Kostyuk, ranked 27th in the world, showcased her prowess against the 19-year-old Eala, who recently reached a career-high ranking of 70.

The match began with a fierce opening game that lasted a grueling 10 minutes. Although Eala fought hard to hold serve, Kostyuk edged out to take a 1–0 lead and proceeded to sweep the first set entirely. Her consistent groundstrokes and aggressive baseline play allowed her to control the match from the start.

Eala struggled to find her rhythm on the heavy clay of Rome, despite a recent strong showing at the Miami Open, where she reached the semifinals. After the match, Kostyuk remarked, “I feel sorry for them, to be honest,” highlighting the pressures young players face in professional tennis.

In the second set, Kostyuk extended her lead to 4–0, maintaining her aggressive play and sharp returns. Eala finally managed to breakthrough at 1–4, but the brief momentum shift was short-lived as Kostyuk sealed the match at 6–1 in just over an hour. Eala’s loss came after spending a total of 62 minutes on the court, marking a disappointing start to her campaign in Rome.

Despite the defeat, Eala’s tournament is not over. She will shift her focus to the doubles draw, partnering with American star Coco Gauff, where they will face Russia’s Alexandra Panova and Hungary’s Fanny Stollár in their opening match on Friday, May 9.

Kostyuk, on the other hand, looks to build on her momentum as she advances to the second round to face Canada’s Leylah Fernandez. Kostyuk has had strong results recently, reaching the semifinals in Madrid the previous week, and aims to continue her impressive performance in this prestigious tournament.

Match statistics highlight Kostyuk’s dominance, with 59 of the 89 total points played going in her favor, while Eala managed only 30. Kostyuk also converted 6 of her 17 break points while Eala failed to convert any of hers.

As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Kostyuk as she seeks to solidify her position on the WTA tour. Meanwhile, Eala’s resilience will be tested in doubles play alongside Gauff.

The Italian Open, part of the WTA 1000 series, continues to attract top talent from across the globe, providing a platform for established stars and emerging players like Eala to shine.