Alexandra Eala is set to compete in the Queen’s Club Championships for the first time in her career.
The Filipina youngster was scheduled to compete in the qualifying rounds, but has now entered the main draw directly following the withdrawals of Jessica Pegula and Hailey Baptiste.
Eala, who is currently competing at the Birmingham Open, has now found out her path to the Queen’s Club Championships title.
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The 20-year-old has been handed a difficult draw; and she has a good chance of competing against one of her former doubles partners.
Alex Eala could play Iva Jovic and Amanda Anisimova at the Queen’s Club Championships
Alex Eala’s path to the Queen’s Club title is far from simple.
After a first-round match against a qualifier, Eala will likely play against American youngster Iva Jovic.
Jovic, the sixth seed in London, recently defeated Eala in the Roland Garros first round.
If Eala advances past her good friend, she will most likely play 2025 Wimbledon finalist Amanda Anisimova in the third round.
Anisimova, who was beaten by Iga Swiatek in last year’s Wimbledon final, has received a bye through to the second round. There, she will play Great Britain’s Francesca Jones or Germany’s Laura Siegemund.
If Eala were to advance to the semi-finals in London, she is projected to play fourth seed and Olympic champion Belinda Bencic.
Should Eala reach the final, she would most probably find herself up against 2022 Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina.
Alex Eala’s projected path to the Queen’s Club Championships title
- First round: Qualifier
- Second round: Iva Jovic
- Quarter-finals: Amanda Anisimova
- Semi-finals: Belinda Bencic
- Final: Elena Rybakina
Eala’s path in London is far from easy. However, the Filipina has proven in the past that she has the tools to challenge some of the WTA’s very best on grass courts.
Eala has also been in good form heading into Queen’s Club. The 20-year-old has qualified for the Birmingham Open final and will face fifth seed Nikola Bartunkova.
Iva Jovic’s reaction after beating Alex Eala at Roland Garros
Earlier this year, Alex Eala described Iva Jovic as a ‘really good friend’.
This certainly seems to be the case, as demonstrated by the players’ doubles collaborations at multiple WTA events this year.
The pair first played together at the ASB Classic, reaching the semi-finals.
Three months later, Jovic and Eala were knocked out in the first round of Indian Wells by Jelena Ostapenko and Hailey Baptiste.
At the end of last month, Jovic and Eala contested their first match on the WTA Tour.
Jovic emerged victorious, defeating Eala 6-4, 6-2 in the French Open first round.
“We practice together a ton and played doubles together a ton. I think we both know our tendencies and everyone was ready for the other one,” Jovic said after the contest.
How high do you think Alexandra Eala’s ceiling is?
“It was just about who was going to play their game a bit better that day. She is definitely one of my closest friends on Tour.
“I have so much respect for her as a person and a player. We had a big hug before the match and a big hug after, so no bad blood there!
“I am sure there will be many more matches and she will get me a couple of times too, so that’s tennis!”
