Eala gets second crack at Fernandez
MANILA, Philippines — The first time they met in singles’ action, Alex Eala got drubbed by Leylah Fernandez.
Eala and Fernandez faced off for the first time in the Stuttgart Open earlier this year, where the Filipino-Canadian fashioned out a masterful performance with a 6-1, 6-4 victory over the pride of the Philippines.
Now, Eala will try to get her revenge as they take on each other once more in the Mubadala DC Open late Wednesday evening (Manila time).
Eala, ranked 28th in the world, punched her ticket to the second round of the WTA 500 tournament after coming from behind against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, early Wednesday.
Waiting for her is Fernandez, who made quick work of Magda Linette, 6-1, 6-4.
“I think it's going to be a very tough match for me. Leylah is such an amazing player and an amazing person as well,” the Filipina said after her two hour-26 minute match with the Chinese tennis star.
“So I think right now my first priority is to recover, take care of my body so that I can arrive in the best shape possible for me.”
Fernandez is currently ranked 34th in the world.
She has had an up-and-down year thus far, with a 12-19 win-loss record this season.
The furthest Fernandez got to in a tournament this year was in the quarterfinals. She reached the quarters of Stuttgart before falling against Elena Rybakina. She lost in the same round against Mirra Andreeva in the Madrid Open 10 days after.
Fernandez also reached the quarterfinals of the Internationaux de Strasbourg before bowing out to Victoria Mboko.
In the Mubadala DC Open, she also had an early exit in the doubles’ action after she and her partner, Anna Danilina, fell against Xu Yifan and Tang Qianhui.
Eala, on the other hand, is having a great season thus far, winning 30 of her 48 matches this year.
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