FILIPINA tennis sensation Alex Eala is setting her sights on a strong showing in the coming Australian Open, an event where she has historically struggled in the qualifying rounds.
Eala, who has secured direct entry into the main draw for the 2026 tournament, made her aspirations known at the conclusion of the Macau Tennis Masters at the Macao Forum on Sunday.
Eala’s inclusion in the main draw is a significant achievement, earned by her Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranking, which peaked at world No. 50 at the close of the 2025 season.
This milestone grants her a first-ever main draw appearance in Melbourne after her previous attempts in the qualifying tournaments.
Despite losing her last two exhibition matches for Team Li Na against Conchitina Martinez’s team in Macau, the world No. 53 is optimistic about the new season.
“I’m so excited. I’ve been preparing this whole preseason,” she said.
The Filipino star is determined to rewrite her Australian Open narrative. “I haven’t had much success in the Australian Open in the qualifiers before, but I’m hoping that will change in the main draw. Every year is a different story. I’m so open and so eager to be out on that court,” Eala added.
The Australian Open, which launches the annual Grand Slam season, is scheduled to kick off on January 12 at Melbourne Park.
Eala and Russian world No. 9 Mirra Andreeva, who sat next to the Filipina during a final press conference in Macau, are among the rising stars expected to make an impact in the tournament. Andreeva claimed a victory over Eala in their women’s singles encounter in Macau with a 6-4, 6-2 score.
Despite the loss, Eala, who holds two junior-level wins over Andreeva, said she “had a blast” and thoroughly enjoyed the match.
Eala and her teammate, Jerry Shang, still competed in the mixed doubles, where they took a 5-7, 6-7(1) loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Wu Yibbing.
Wu stepped in as a replacement after Andreeva was forced to withdraw from the exhibition mixed doubles event due to an illness, meaning Eala did not have a chance to meet the Russian on the court on Day 1.
