LOOKING to regain traction on clay, Alex Eala opens her 2026 Internazionali BNL d’Italia campaign with a first career meeting against Poland’s Magdalena Frech.
Rome marks Eala’s fourth tournament on the red surface this season and her 12th overall following an impressive run through the hardcourt swing.
Eala rises to world No. 42
Now ranked No. 42 after climbing two places in the latest WTA rankings released last Monday, Eala remains within striking distance of her career-high No. 29.
She will jumpstart her tourney against 28-year-old Frech, currently No. 45 in the world, who owns a WTA singles title and has climbed as high as No. 22 in her career.
Both players enter Rome searching for form after early exits at the Madrid Open, where Eala fell to Elise Mertens, 2-6, 1-6, and Frech bowed to Solana Sierra, 4-6, 4-6, in the round of 64.
Eala, who holds a 3-2 record on clay so far this season, will be aiming not just for a first win in Rome this year but also a better showing than in her 2025 campaign, where she exited in the round of 128 against Marta Kostyuk.
With the Italian Open running until May 17, the tournament looms as a crucial final tune-up before the Roland Garros French Open later this month.
Eala and Frech will see action either on Tuesday or Wednesday, Manila time, with the specific date yet to be determined.
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