DREAM match.
Alexandra "Alex" Eala of the Philippines seeks a massive upset against world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the WTA 1000 Italian Open third round (round of 32) in Rome on Sunday.
The order of play for Sunday's lineup had not been released yet as of writing but matches usually start as early as 11 a.m. local time or 5 p.m. in Manila.
This is Eala's eighth meeting against a top 10 opponent and Rybakina of Kazakhstan is the sixth player in that elite list.
World No. 42 Eala put herself in position to face Rybakina after taking down No. 33 and tournament No. 31 seed Wang Xinyu iof China in the round of 64 on Friday evening, 6-4, 6-3.
Rybakina then forged the match after dispatching world No. 47 Maria Sakkari of Greece in their second round encounter, 6-4, 6-1, early Saturday morning in Manila.
While ranked significantly lower, the 20-year-old Eala got herself a respectable record against top 10 players with a 4-3 win-loss card.
The 5-foot-9 lefty's last win came against No. 4 Coco Gauff at the Indian Wells round of 32, where the American No.1 retired due to a left arm injury, 6-2, 2-0, last March.
Two of Eala's three other wins against top 10 opponents came at her dream run in last year's 1000 Miami Open last year, where she took down former world No.5 Madison Keys, 6-4, 6-2 in the third round and former No. 2 Iga Swiatek, 6-2, 7-5, in the quarterfinals.
That other top 10 win came at the Dubai Tennis Championships where Eala stopped No. 8 Jasmine Paolini, 6-1, 7-6 (5), last February.
Eala hopes to recreate that magic in her first third round appearance of the clay season.
Pulling off another upset is easier said than done especially against the 26-year-old, 6-foot Rybakina, who's determined to bury the 7-6, 6-4 round of 16 stunning loss to then world No. 56 and now No. 29 Anastasia Potapova at the Madrid Open nearly two weeks ago.
