MANILA, Philippines — Alexandra "Alex" Eala is set for a potential round of 32 clash against world no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and defending champ Mirra Andreeva at the WTA 1000 Indian Wells slated from March 4 to 15 in California, USA.
Ranked 31st in the world, Eala will face Sabalenka, Andreeva, or any other top 8 player if she wins her first match (round of 64).
Of course, Sabalenka and company must win their respective round of 64 matches, too, to forge a potential clash with Eala.
Draws isn't available until Monday but it's structured in a way that the top 8 seeds would meet the 25th to 32nd seeds in round of 32.
Meanwhile, the top 9 to 16 players would clash against 17th to 24th seeds in the round of 32.
The tournament designed it this way so the top 1 to 8 seeds and top 9 to 16 seeds won't meet until the round of 16 (fourth round).
The top 32 players earned a first round bye, and they will face either unseeded players, wildcards, or qualifiers in their round of 64 matches.
If Eala wins her round of 64 match, a dream match with top 8 players like Sabalenka, no. 2 Swiatek, no. 3 Elena Rybakina, no. 4 Coco Gauff, no. 5 Jessica Pegula, no. 6 Amanda Anisimova, no. 7 Jasmine Paolini, and no. 8 Andreeva is possible.
Eala has already faced Swiatek, Gauff, Pegula, Paolini, and Andreeva before.
She stunned Swiatek at the Miami Open quarterfinals last year in March, 6-2, 7-5 but the Polish player got back at her at the Madrid Open the following month.
In the same Miami Open, Eala bowed to Pegula who ended her dream run with a 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-3 semifinal win.
Merely two weeks ago, Eala took on Gauff and Paolini at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
Eala pulled off an upset against Paolini, 6-1, 7-6(5) in the round of 32, but yielded to Gauff in the quarters, 0-6, 2-6.
Meanwhile, Eala hasn't faced Andreeva in an official WTA pro game before, although she already battled the Russian in two matches.
Eala defeated Andreeva, 6-4, 6-0, at the 2022 US Juniors Open which she eventually won.
Eala then fell to Andreeva at the Macau Masters last December, 4-6, 2-6.