Eala to face Andreeva in Macau

Alex Eala.

STAR / File

MANILA, Philippines — Filipina tennis star Alex Eala arrived in Macau yesterday to celebrate Christmas with her family and see action in the star-studded MGM Macau Tennis Masters next week.

“Made it,” Eala posted on her Instagram account with “Merry Christmas” greetings as backdrop.

“I’d love to share the joy of winning gold (in the Thailand SEA Games) with you guys at the 2025 MGM Macau Tennis Masters. The holidays are for sharing – come spend them with us on court.”

The 20-year-old Filipina will have a short break with her family for Christmas in the former Portuguese colony. Then she shifts her focus to the prestigious exhibition tournament on Dec. 27 and 28 featuring legends like Li Na of China and Conchita Martinez of Spain, who will act as team captains.

It will serve as Eala’s last tournament prior to the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam event of 2026 in January.

Eala WTA No. 53, is one of the invited rising stars in the event that will implement captain’s teams, men’s and women’s singles as well as mixed doubles tournaments.

The lefty sensation will face world No. 9 Mirra Andreeva of Russia in the women’s singles on Sunday.

It’s the first meeting for the world’s young stars since Eala beat Andreeva, 6-4, 6-0, in the quarterfinals of the 2022 US Open, which she ultimately won to become the first Filipina junior Grand Slam champion.

Eala and Andreeva also teamed up for a second-round finish in the doubles of the same event.

Before that, she will also figure in the mixed doubles with ATP No. 253 Jerry Shang of China, clashing against the 18-year-old Andreeva and ATP No. 182 Yibing Wu, also from China.

Eala is coming off a one-gold, two-bronze campaign in the SEA Games last week in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

She bagged bronze medals in the women’s team event with Stefi Aludo, Alexa Milliam, Tennielle Madis and Shaira Rivera as well as in the mixed doubles with Niño Alcantara.