Eala to embark on first Grand Slam mixed doubles stint

The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala plays a backhand return to Czech Republic’s Barbora Krejcikova during their women’s singles first round tennis match on the second day of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2025.

Glyn Kirk / AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala is to etch another “first” in her rising international tennis career.

Eala will team up with World No. 4 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada for her first-ever Grand Slam mixed doubles stint in the US Open from August 30 to September 13 in Flushing Meadows, New York.

The US Open announced the entry list Tuesday in time for the kickoff of the hard-court swing starting in the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, where Eala will also play as part of her US major build-up.

Eala, WTA No. 29, is coming off a Round-of-16 finish in the Wimbledon, while Auger-Aliassime finished in the Last 8 following a tough five-setter loss to 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

Both have ties with the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain, with Eala as a scholar graduate and Auger-Aliassime training under Toni Nadal there.

And Djokovic, at 39 years old, definitely looms as a contender in the said mixed doubles after joining forces with World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus to headline the 16-team list.

Also emerging as favorite pairs are Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina (WTA No. 2) and USA’s Taylor Fritz (ATP No. 10); USA’s Jessica Pegula (WTA No. 3) and Jack Draper of Great Britain (ATP No. 147); and USA’s Taylor Townsend (WTA doubles No. 2) and Germany’s Alexander Zverev (ATP No. 2).

WTA doubles No. 1 Ekaterina Siniakova of Czechia and ATP doubles No. 1 Henry Patten of Great Britain are also in the fray as a super-favorite tandem.

Then there’s the reigning champion Sara Errani (WTA No. 10) and Andrea Vavasorri (ATP No. 6) of Italy as well as second-placers Iga Swiatek of Poland (WTA No. 8) and Casper Ruud of Norway (ATP No. 13).

But first things first for Eala, who will play Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen (WTA No. 123) in Round 1 of the 500-level Washing tour early Tuesday.

It’s the first of Eala’s three tournaments as part of US Open preparations as she will also vie in the National Bank Open in Toronto and Cincinnati Open back in the US.

Eala was supposed to play in the Mubadala doubles as well with American legend Venus Williams, but she opted to focus on the singles campaign as her first tourney after a short break following a marvelous grass season campaign.

The Pinay ace said it will be a disservice to Williams if she has to juggle acts while adjusting from a grass-court transition.

"I have so much respect for Venus. I am so grateful for every opportunity that I have to be around her, to learn from her, to hit with her. But I do think this is my first week coming back, and I think that Venus is someone who deserves a partner who can give their all physically, emotionally, mentally when they're on court with her," said Eala during the pre-tournament presser last weekend.