Alexandra Eala and Venus Williams are set for a cross-generational doubles match at the ASB Classic.
Eala will team with fellow rising star Iva Jovic, while Williams will begin a brand-new partnership with Elina Svitolina at the New Zealand event.
Both women will also play the singles event at the ASB Classic, with Eala set for a clash with Donna Vekic and Williams preparing for a match with Magda Linette.
Williams and Eala have never crossed over on the WTA Tour before, but the American did offer up advice for the 20-year-old when she was about to make her US Open debut.
Venus Williams’ advice for Alexandra Eala ahead of the 2025 US Open
Speaking at her 2025 US Open press conference, Williams was asked whether she had any advice for the rising Filipina star.
Eala was set to make her US Open debut against Clara Tauson, following a breakout performance at the Miami Open.
How high do you think Alexandra Eala’s ceiling is?
The 20-year-old reached the semi-final of the Masters tournament after defeating Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys, and Jelena Ostapenko.
Williams offered up the advice: “Just enjoy yourself. When you’re having fun, things are easy. When you’re not, it’s not as much fun. You have to put the fun first.”
Eala would go on to win her maiden Grand Slam match, beating Tauson at Flushing Meadows in three sets.
The rising star became the first Filipino player in the Open Era to win a singles main draw match at a major, so the advice clearly worked.
Alexandra Eala’s 2026 schedule has been locked in
Eala has already locked in for a hectic January schedule following her first tournament of the year at the ASB Classic.
After playing both singles and debuts in Auckland, the star will head to the Kooyong Classic in Melbourne between January 13th and 15th.
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The star will then compete in her very first Australian Open main draw, having fallen at the qualifying hurdle in the last three years.
If the star does not make the second week of the first Grand Slam of the year, she will compete at the maiden Philippine Women’s Open in Manila for the final week of January.
