Eala faces Russian veteran at start of Madrid Open campaign

The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala reacts after a point against Japan’s Himeno Sakatsume during their women’s singles at the Philippine Women’s Open tennis tournament in Manila on January 28, 2026.

Ted Aljibe / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Hola, Alex Eala.

The Filipina tennis ace will kick off the Mutua Madrid Open against qualifier Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia Wednesday evening (Manila time).

Eala has had a slow start in the clay season, failing to make it past the second round in the Linz Open after getting swept by Jelena Ostapenko before bowing out in the first round of the Stuttgart Open against Leylah Fernandez.

Now, she aims to turn things around in Madrid.

But it will not be easy, as she faces the veteran Pavlyuchenkova.

The 34-year-old won 12 singles’ titles in her career, including several in clay courts.

Pavlyuchenkova’s last singles title came in 2018, when the Russian ruled the WTA 500 tournament in Strasbourg.

She also won a title in Rabat in 2017 and in Monterrey in 2013.

The World No. 44 Eala, on the other hand, usually struggles in clay courts.

Whoever wins in the first round will take on Elise Mertens in the Round of 64.

Eala will also team up with Zeynep Sonmez in doubles’ action.

The duo will face off with Chan Hao-ching and Fanny Stollar in the first round, set on Thursday (Manila time).