Eala battles Ukrainian foe to start Indian Wells campaign

Sports

ALEX Eala will take on a familiar foe to kick off her campaign in the Indian Wells Open on Saturday (Philippine time), March 7.

The 20-year-old Eala will battle Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine in the Round of 64 of the tournament that also features world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.

While Eala qualified to the Round of 64 outright, Yastremska needed to score a 6-3, 6-2 first-round win over Zhang Shuai to advance and arrange a rematch with the rising Filipino tennis star.

It will be the second time that the two are facing each other. The first and lone meeting so far between the two players saw Eala beat Yastremska, 6-1, 6-2, in their quarterfinal match of the Lexus Eastbourne Open in June 2025.

Eala is currently ranked No 32 in the world.

The 25-year-old Yastremska has a current world ranking of No. 52 but went as high as No. 21 in her career. She is a three-time WTA 250 champion and a 2024 Australian Open semifinalist.

The winner of the Eala and Yastremska match will face the victor of the Coco Gauff-Kamilla Rakhimova showodwn.

Playing in her third straight WTA 1000 tournament, Eala will also compete in the doubles where she will partner with Iva Jovic.

The Eala-Jovic duo will take on Hailey Baptiste and Jelena Ostapenko in the Round of 32 slated early Sunday, March 8.(CCM)