Alex Eala may have exited the singles draw of the Italian Open, but the tournament still marked another important step in what she describes as her evolving relationship with clay.
Facing world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in Rome, the 20-year-old Filipina showed flashes of the aggressive and fearless style that has steadily elevated her game on the WTA Tour.
Although Eala absorbed a 4-6, 3-6 defeat against the reigning Grand Slam champion, the match offered more than just a scoreline—it gave her another measuring stick against one of the world’s elite players on one of tennis’ most demanding surfaces.
“I’m happy with my performance. I was able to reach a good level of tennis. I don’t think it was an easy win for her. Of course, there are still things to work on and learn from this match, but I think I’m on the right track,” Eala said.
Against Rybakina’s powerful serve and baseline game, Eala tried to match aggression with aggression. She stayed committed to dictating rallies whenever opportunities appeared, a mindset that reflected her growing confidence on clay despite still adjusting to the slower surface.
Eala said she moved well throughout the match and capitalized on her opportunities, adding that she was pleased with her improvement on clay compared to last year and satisfied with both her recent performances and the work she has put in with her team off the court.
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Despite her impressive Italian Open run coming to an end, Alex Eala says she’s “very happy” with her performance as she was able to “reach a good level of tennis” during her match vs two-time Grand Slam champ Rybakina. | via @DYANCASTILLEJO pic.twitter.com/CMxSEhk7BK
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) May 11, 2026
For the Filipina standout, one of the biggest lessons from the encounter came from experiencing the difference between competing well and consistently winning points against the sport’s top-tier players.
She said the match was highly competitive but acknowledged that her opponent’s ability to earn more free points, combined with greater experience as a Grand Slam champion, played a major role in the outcome.
The encouraging signs in Rome extended beyond the result itself. Eala played three matches on clay during the tournament, gaining valuable repetitions ahead of Roland Garros, which begins in just two weeks. More importantly, she leaves Italy believing that her comfort level on the surface is steadily improving.
“It’s a long process, but my relationship with clay is getting better. This was a good week and I hope there will be many more good weeks. I’m really positive about my progress,” she said.
Although her singles campaign has ended, Eala’s Italian Open journey is not over yet.
She will continue competing in doubles alongside Hailey Baptiste after the pair earned a late entry into the tournament as alternates. The duo is set to face second seeds Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova in another major test against established doubles specialists.
Eala expressed her happiness after getting into the tournament as alternates, saying they were initially left out of the main draw and only received confirmation that day, allowing them to extend their stay in Rome and continue competing at a high level.
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