MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala faces five-time WTA champ Leylah Fernandez in the opening round of the WTA 500 Stuttgart Open in Germany likely set on Monday.
The draw was held Saturday night in Manila.
While representing Canada, Fernandez is of Filipino descent with her mother is Filipino-Canadian, and her father is Ecuadorian.
It's thus a battle between a homegrown Filipino talent and a global one.
At least on paper, World No. 46 Eala is up for a tough test right away as Fernandez is No. 25 in the rankings with a career-best No. 13.
Eala's career-high was No. 29.