Alex Eala's tough Italian Open bid starts vs Pole Magdalena Frech

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala faces an early tough test in the 2026 Italian Open round of 128 against Poland’s Magdalena Frech on Wednesday (Manila time).

Eala is expected to have an uphill climb in Rome, where she could meet World No. 2 Elena Rybakina as early as the round of 32.

READ: Alex Eala, World No. 42, warms up ahead of return at Italian Open

But that’s assuming she gets past Frech first and Chinese World No. 33 Wang Xinyu, who drew a bye into the second round. Wang outlasted Eala in the ASB Classic semifinal in Auckland, New Zealand last January.

Frech, No. 45 in the WTA, reached a career-high ranking of 22nd in October of last year.

The 20-year-old Filipino tennis star, who improved to World No. 42, is hoping to regain her winning form after a tough start on clay.

In her most recent stint, Eala was swept by Belgium’s Elise Mertens, 6-2, 6-1, in the second round of the Madrid Open on April 24.

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Eala was initially listed to compete at a WTA 125 tournament in Catalonia, but pulled out to focus on the Italian Open instead.

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