Alycia Parks’ powerful serves will make her a dangerous opponent when she and Alexandra Eala meet on Monday during the Filipina’s main draw debut in the first round of the women’s singles at the 2026 Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne Park.
“I’m confident with how I’m playing. That doesn’t mean the matches aren’t going to be tough here, so I’m ready for anything,” said the world’s no. 49 Eala in a presser during the Australian Open’s opening day.
Parks has been struggling with consistency in her recent games. After a career-high ranking of world No. 40 in August, 2023, she ended 2024 ranked 112th and is now at 100th.
The 5’9” Eala, whose encounter with Parks is slated at 10:30 a.m., comes into the fight in excellent form, having gotten momentum from a semifinal run at the ASB Classic and a straight-sets win over world No. 70 Donna Vekic in an exhibition match at the Kooyong Classic.
Eala, who has a win-loss record of 40-26 during her breakout 2025 season, has been travelling a lot in recent weeks.
Her bruising schedule included a gold-medal run in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, exhibitions in Macau and a long semifinal match with Wang Xinyu in the ASB Classic in Auckland.
Despite her hectic pace, Eala said she has prepared in advance for her situation.
“I think I’ve planned well, and my team has done a great job of getting me here in the best shape possible. It’s a Grand Slam, so we’re not overlooking that, and I’m ready. I’m here,” said Eala, who is coached by Joan Bosch.
In her most recent match, Parks bowed out of the qualifiers with a loss to Ayano Shimizu last week at the Hobart International, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Parks also lost the Elisabetta Cocciaretto, 2-6, 5-7, in the Round of 32, of the ASB Classic, and missed a possible clash with Eala, had she made it to the quarterfinals.
