Alex Eala will play Croatia’s Donna Vekic in the first round of the Berlin Open.
The Filipina will be up against it when she takes on Vekic, a semi-finalist at this week’s Queen’s Club Championships.
But Eala’s second-round opponent would be even more dangerous.
Who is currently the best grass-court player on the WTA Tour?
Eala could meet the world number two, former Wimbledon champion, and reigning Australian Open champion, Elena Rybakina, in the second round.
Alex Eala could play Elena Rybakina in her second-round match at the Berlin Open
The 21-year-old will meet Rybakina in the second round if she defeats Vekic in her opener.
Seeded second, Rybakina is one of four players to have received a bye into round two.
- [1] Aryna Sabalenka
- [2] Elena Rybakina
- [3] Jessica Pegula
- [4] Amanda Anisimova
Eala and Rybakina have met once before, at the Italian Open earlier this year.
Playing for a spot in the last 16, Rybakina defeated Eala in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.
The Kazakhstani will be the big favourite should they meet for a second time in Berlin.
Rybakina leads Eala in most relevant statistics.
| Stats | Elena Rybakina | Alex Eala |
| Grand Slams | 2 | 0 |
| WTA 1000s | 2 | 0 |
| WTA Titles | 13 | 0 |
| WTA Ranking | 2nd | 33rd |
| Top-10 wins | 38 | 4 |
It is, however, important to remember that Eala is much younger than Rybakina, and is improving every time she steps on court.
Just last week, Eala won her maiden grass-court title, albeit at the WTA 125 Challenger level.
She then suffered a heavy second-round defeat to Iva Jovic at Queen’s.
Eala will be keen to return to winning ways in Berlin, and upset the world number two on her way to the quarter-finals.
Looking further ahead in the draw, Eala could take on Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the quarters.
Svitolina is an accomplished grass-court player, reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2019 and 2023.
Eala has never played Svitolina in singles, although she did defeat the veteran in a doubles match at the ASB Classic in January.
- 2026 ASB Classic – Alex Eala/Iva Jovic defeated Elina Svitolina/Venus Williams, 7-6, 6-1
If Eala could produce another upset, she would book her place in the semis, where she would likely take on the American, Amanda Anisimova.
Anisimova was the runner-up at Queen’s and Wimbledon last year, establishing herself as one of the best grass-court players in women’s tennis.
Eala hasn’t played Anisimova before, but like most of her projected Berlin Open ties, she would begin the match as the underdog.
If she could beat Anisimova, Eala may take on the world number one, Aryna Sabalenka, in the final.
Sabalenka lost to the eventual champion, Marketa Vondrousova, in the semi-finals of last year’s Berlin Open.
Yet to win a title on grass, the Belarusian will be determined to lift the trophy in Berlin before she heads to Wimbledon.
Eala will be up against it in her bid for Berlin Open glory, but if she wants to become one of the best players in the world, this is a great opportunity for the Filipina to prove herself.
How many matches has Alex Eala won on grass this year?
The world number 33 made a fine start to her grass-court campaign in Birmingham before falling short in the second round of Queen’s.
Alex Eala’s 2026 grass-court record (6-1)
- Birmingham Open 1R [WIN] vs Priscilla Hon, 6-0, 6-2
- Birmingham Open 2R [WIN] vs Alina Charaeva, 6-2, 7-5
- Birmingham Open QF [WIN] vs Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-3, 6-2
- Birmingham Open SF [WIN] vs Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3
- Birmingham Open F [WIN] vs Nikola Bartunkova, 5-7, 6-3, 7-5
- Queen’s Club Championships 1R [WIN] vs Zhang Shuai, 6-3, 6-2
- Queen’s Club Championships 2R [LOSS] vs Iva Jovic, 2-6, 2-6
Eala looked impressive in Birmingham and her Queen’s opener, but her heavy defeat to Jovic acted as a reminder of the gap between the 21-year-old and the world’s elite.
She’ll hope to avoid any more score lines like that when she returns to action in Berlin.
The 2026 Berlin Open begins on Monday, June 15.
