IS Alexandra “Alex” Eala a favorite to win in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics?
With her 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 conquest against reigning Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen in the first round of the WTA 500 Mubadala D.C. Open early Wednesday (Manila time), Eala has now defeated all podium finishers at the 2024 Paris Olympics women’s single tennis.
Eala first defeated the bronze medalist, Iga Swiatek, at the 2025 WTA 1000 Miami Open quarterfinals, 6-2, 7-5.
Swiatek was then No. 2 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings while Eala was No. 140.
The 21-year-old Eala stunned the 25-year-old Swiatek anew at the Wimbledon, 7-6(9), 6-2, sending the defending champ home in the third round.
The lefty Eala also defeated silver medalist Donna Vekic twice this year.
Eala first topped the 30-year-old Croatian at the ASB Classic first round last January (4–6, 6–4, 6–4) and scored a repeat victory at the Berlin Open last June (7-5, 6-4).
Conversely, Swiatek and Zheng also posted victories over Eala.
After the Miami Open, Swiatek got back at Eala at the 2025 Madrid Open round of 64 with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 triumph.
The 23-year-old Zheng, meanwhile, outlasted Eala in their 2023 Asian Games semifinal encounter, 6–1, 6(5)–7, 6–3. The Chinese netter eventually topped the tournament and bagged the Olympic gold the following year when she defeated Vekic in the final.
Vekic, on the other hand, has not defeated Eala. They met in an exhibition match at the Kooyong Classic last January and the Filipina prevailed, 6-3, 6-4.
To get an outright qualification for the 2028 Olympics, Eala needs to be in the top 56 in the WTA rankings on the June 12, 2028 cutoff date.
On Wednesday, world No. 28 Eala slowed down after a 2-0 start as No. 123 Zheng banked on her lethal serves to take the first set and grab a 4-3 lead in the second set.
Eala, however, surged from there, winning seven straight games to take the second frame and claim a commanding 4-0 lead in the third.
Zheng momentarily stopped the bleeding as she took the fifth game before Eala broke the former world No. 4’s serve in the sixth and held hers in the final game to claim victory in her tournament debut.
“I think the community here in D.C. is amazing. I think there was a great atmosphere for both players, and I’m really happy with my win today,” said Eala in the court interview.
“He (my coach) said that I have to keep going because if I’m there every ball I’ll have my chances, and I did,” added Eala, who finished the match in two hours and 26 minutes.
While Zheng packed more power in her serves with 14 aces compared to Eala’s four, the Filipino proved to be more efficient as she scored 67 percent (32/48) in first serve points won and 47 percent (17/36) in second serves.
The Asian Games gold medalist, on the other hand, posted 66 percent (29/44) in first serve points won and 35 percent (17/48) in second serves.
In total, Eala made 58 percent (49/84) of her service points while Zheng logged 50 percent (47/94).
Eala’s point construction was also more varied and her court coverage more successful.
Calm and collected, Eala managed to redirect Zheng’s power as she broke the 2024 Olympic champ’s serve six times out of 13 for a 46 percent clip.
On the other hand, Zheng broke Eala’s serve four times out of 14 for a mediocre 29-percent performance.
After securing a payback win against Zheng, Eala will seek another one against world No. 34 and fellow lefty Fernandez in the second round.
Eala clashed with Fernandez at the Stuttgart Open in Germany and lost, 1-6, 4-6, last April.
“I think it’s going to be a very tough match for me,” Eala said of her rematch against Fernandez, who defeated Polish Magda Linette in the first round, 6-1, 6-4.
“Leyla is such an amazing player and an amazing person as well. So I think right now my first priority is to recover, take care of my body so that I can arrive in the best shape possible for me,” Eala said.
Fernandez, whose mother was born in the Philippines, carries the Canadian flag in the WTA tournament but acknowledges her Filipino roots.
