For the second straight WTA 1000 tournament, Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala will take on world no. 2 Iga Swiatek, this time at the Madrid Open.
Alex Eala knows what she's up against — and she’s embracing every bit of it.
Set to face world no. 2 and clay-court queen Iga Swiatek in the Round of 64 at the Mutua Madrid Open, Eala steps into the spotlight once again in a WTA 1000 rematch that promises fireworks.
It’s a quick turnaround from their first meeting just last month in Miami, where the 19-year-old Filipina pulled off a career-defining upset in straight sets over the Polish star.
But Madrid is a different battleground. Swiatek is not only the defending champion — she’s a force on clay, as four of her five Grand Slam titles have come on the demanding surface.
[RELATED: Clay Court Clash: Alex Eala vs Iga Swiatek set for Madrid Open rematch]
“Iga is spectacular. She pushes you to the limit. I love her intensity and her footwork, it’s something I want to look at more to see how I can learn. Her serve is really good too,” Eala said in a report by the Mutua Madrid Open ahead of their second-ever meeting.
This will be Eala’s biggest test yet on clay. Ranked no. 72 — a career high — and still searching for her first WTA title, the Filipina teen got past Bulgarian veteran Viktoriya Tomova in the first round to set up the marquee matchup.
She’ll now try to repeat the impossible against a player who thrives in the slow, tactical grind of the surface.
[RELATED: Alex Eala sweeps Victoriya Tomova to start the 2025 Mutua Madrid Open]
Swiatek, a four-time Roland Garros champion and the sport’s most dominant clay player in recent years, is looking for payback after her Miami loss — and few bounce back better.
Eala, though, isn’t just showing up to learn. With her fearless game and rising confidence, she’ll take her shot at the top again — this time, with an even bigger stage and a tougher surface.
The highly-anticipated rematch is pegged for April 25 (PH time).
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]