ALEX Eala is on to her next challenge as she gears up for the WTA 500 Mubadala Abu Dhabi Open.
Just a day after arriving in the UAE, the 20-year-old Filipina received her opening-round draw and will face Turkish player Zeynep Sonmez, an opponent she knows well.
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Eala and Sonmez last crossed paths in the qualifying rounds of the Eastbourne International last year, where Eala dominated 6–1, 6–3 en route to a finals appearance against Maya Joint.
The two are also familiar with each other’s games off the singles court, having partnered twice on the ITF doubles circuit earlier in their careers.
Eala and Sonmez are scheduled to meet at 2:00 p.m. (Manila time) on Sunday.
The Turkish player, WTA no. 112, is coming off a third-round exit at the Australian Open, where she fell in three sets to Yulia Putintseva, 3-6, 7-6, 3-6.
Eala, meanwhile, is coming off a WTA125 Manila stint, losing in the quarterfinals to Camila Osorio, 6-4, 6-4. She also had a brief Grand Slam run, exiting in the opening round against Alycia Parks, 6-0, 3-6, 2-6.
Their other meeting came in Nantes, France, in 2023, where Eala also defeated Sonmez, 7-6, 6-4, giving her a 2-0 head-to-head record.
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