Alexandra Eala Reveals Her ‘Dream Opponent’ Ahead of Singapore Open: “Somebody I’ve Looked Up to Ever Since I Was a Baby”
Alexandra Eala will be chasing the second title of her career at the Singapore Open.
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Alexandra Eala (Image via National Bank Open)
Alexandra Eala is gearing up for the Singapore Open, which is scheduled to start on September 21. She last played at the US Open, where she reached the third round for the first time in her career after making her debut last year.
The 21-year-old has already become one of tennis’ biggest stars, all thanks to the support she gets from the Filipino community. She has played two tour-level finals so far, losing the 2025 Eastbourne International to Maya Joint and winning this year’s Citi Open by defeating home favorite Jessica Pegula.
Beyond singles, Eala also regularly competes in doubles and has paired with players like Coco Gauff and the legendary Venus Williams. Ahead of the Singapore Open, Eala sat down for an interview with Channel News Asia, where she was asked about her dream opponent.
Serena Williams or Maria Sharapova. Serena is just the greatest of all time. And Maria is somebody I’ve looked up to ever since I was a baby.
Sharapova, the former five-time Grand Slam champion, called time on her career in 2020 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame last year, with Williams making a surprising appearance and delivering a riveting speech. The 44-year-old first called it quits after her third-round exit at the 2022 US Open.
She made her shock comeback at the Queen’s Club Championships this year, playing only in doubles alongside Victoria Mboko. Later, she paired up with Karolina Muchova for the Berlin Open before returning to singles at Wimbledon and losing the first-round match to Joint. The Williams sisters played their first tournament together since the 2022 US Open at the US Open, where they suffered a first-round exit.
Andrea Petkovic on why she thinks Alexandra Eala will win a Major before Iva Jovic
Alexandra Eala has met her good friend Iva Jovic three times but lost every match. It was the American ace who ended Eala’s run at the US Open after a three-hour thriller on the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
While discussing who between the two youngsters will win a Grand Slam title first on The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast, Andrea Petkovic picked Eala because she is more experienced than the 18-year-old.
I think both will win one. I think that’s important for me to state. I think Eala will win one before, just because she has that two years [extra in age]. I’m not picking her because I believe in her tennis more or less. I just think the two years of maturity- even though Iva Jovic is maybe the most mature person I’ve ever spoken to- it’s almost shocking when she opens her mouth.
Jovic has already made a deep run in a Grand Slam tournament. This year, in her second appearance at the Australian Open, she reached the quarterfinals and lost the title to eventual runner-up Aryna Sabalenka. She then went on to reach the third round of the French Open and the fourth round of both Wimbledon and the US Open.
I think it’s difficult to account for these two years that Eala has on her. The extra bit of experience, the extra bit of having been in certain moments, the extra bit of life experience- not only experience in tournaments.
Andrea Petkovic added
Eala produced her best Grand Slam performance when she reached the fourth round of this year’s Wimbledon. After the US Open, Jovic played in Guadalajara and defended her title by beating Peyton Stearns, also winning the second title of her career.
Gouri Das
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