Alexandra Eala is currently preparing to embark on her fourth Madrid Open campaign.
The 20-year-old, who has become a sensation on the WTA Tour this year, most recently competed in the Stuttgart Open.
The Filipina suffered disappointment at the event, losing in the first round to former US Open finalist, Leylah Fernandez.
What is the best win of Alexandra Eala’s career so far? 🤔
Iga Swiatek in Miami, Clara Tauson at the US Open, Jasmine Paolini in Dubai, or a different match?
Eala will be hoping to bounce back in Madrid, and she faces a qualifier in the first round.
Ahead of her first match, Eala has enlisted the help of a British WTA star.
Alex Eala is set to practice with Katie Boulter
As per the Madrid Open website, Alex Eala and Katie Boulter [pictured below] are set to practice together on Tuesday between 2 and 3pm local time.
Boulter, the world number 61, is set to partake in the session before playing her first-round match against Taylor Townsend on Wednesday.
If the British star defeats Townsend, she will play world number five Jessica Pegula in the Madrid Open second round.
Boulter has been in great form at the start of this year, winning her fourth WTA title in Ostrava and beating the likes of Clara Tauson, Camila Osorio and Jacqueline Cristian.
The British star should feel confident of advancing far in Madrid, and who would bet against her doing so after such an excellent start to the 2026 WTA campaign?
Katie Boulter’s projected draw in Madrid
- First round: Taylor Townsend
- Second round: Jessica Pegula
- Third round: Marta Kostyuk
- Fourth round: Victoria Mboko
As for Eala, if she wins her opening round, she will face 19th seed Elise Mertens in the second round.
If the Filipina advances further, she will likely play former world number one Karolina Pliskova in the third round.
What happened when Alex Eala played Katie Boulter on the WTA Tour?
Last year, Alex Eala and Katie Boulter contested their first match on the WTA Tour.
The pair, both unseeded, played each other in the Hong Kong Open round of 32.
Eala led 6-4, 2-1 when Boulter called the trainer onto court, before retiring injured from the match.
I am a little out of words,” Eala told Sky Sports while still on court.
“I think this time of the year is a tough moment for a lot of players physically and mentally, being the end of the season.
“I hope Katie can take this time to recover and look back at her season proudly.”
Eala went on to lose in the next round to Victoria Mboko, who subsequently went on to win the event.
