Eala set for highly anticipated Bad Homburg Open doubles partnership with Venus Williams
MANILA, Philippines — After etching history in Berlin, Alex Eala is in for another one, and it is with no less than a legend.
Eala carries on the momentum of her impressive campaign in Berlin to the next tournament in the same country when she teams up with former World No. 1 Venus Williams of the United States in a groundbreaking partnership in the WTA500 Bad Homburg Open kicking off Monday.
The 21-year-old Eala and the 46-year-old Williams will play a qualifier duo in Round 1, according to the official draw released by WTA Monday.
The Filipina-American tandem is supposed to play Japan’s Shuko Aoyama and En-Shuo Liang of Chinese Taipei, but the latter withdrew due to an injury to give Eala and Williams an extra day of preparation pending the qualifying round.
In the singles, the WTA No. 35 Eala will face a familiar foe in World No. 24 Elise Mertens of Belgium, who beat her in the opening round of the Madrid Open this year, 6-2, 6-1.
But all eyes are on her highly anticipated team-up with the seven-time Grand Slam champion Williams in her grand tennis return.
"I am really, really excited," said Eala, who smashed a bevy of feats in the WTA500 Berlin Tennis Open over the weekend before a Final Four exit against world No. 13 Linda Noskova of Czechia, 6-2, 6-4.
"Venus is such a trailblazer and continues to do so much and has done so much for the sport. I like to say that women's tennis has been a trailblazer for women's sports and she is a big part of why that is."
Homburg will serve as Eala’s final preparation before the Wimbledon on June 29 to July 12 in London, where she’s set to become the first seeded Filipina player in history — thanks to a stellar Berlin run.
“I can’t begin to describe all the emotions I’ve experienced this week. My heart is full and I am forever grateful. Berlin, you are so special. Thank you,” beamed Eala after a run for the ages as a wildcard and Berlin debutant.
Eala’s campaign, now with a 9-2 record on grass this season marked by the WTA125 Birmingham title, included wins against World No. 33 Donna Vekic of Croatia, No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and No. 8 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine to gain 195 points and climb to No. 30 in the WTA live rankings.
That’s more than enough to clinch a main draw seed in the queen of grass featuring the Top 32 current WTA players as the Top 32 seeds as well as Eala also ran away with a purse of 57,395 euros or almost 4 million pesos.
And in Homburg, Eala who had a career-high best ranking of No. 29 sports a chance to soar higher in time for the Wimbledon, especially with an extra fuel from her legendary doubles partner.
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