Alex Eala faces former doubles partner and Fil-Australian Lizette Cabrera in another grass tournament, the Ilkley Open.
Top seed Alex Eala opens her Ilkley Open campaign against a familiar face in Fil-Australian Lizette Cabrera in the Round of 32 late Tuesday night (Manila time), looking to turn her season around on the English grass courts.
Eala, who has slipped to world no. 77 following a string of early exits, is eyeing a deep run in the WTA 125 tournament as she shifts gears for the grass season.
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Her first challenge comes in the form of Cabrera, a 27-year-old qualifier currently ranked 206 in the world—and someone Eala once teamed up with in doubles back in 2022.
This time, though, they meet on opposite sides of the net for the first time in their careers.
Cabrera earned her place in the main draw after battling through qualifiers and hopes to build momentum following a similar Round of 32 exit at the Birmingham Open, which also saw Eala bow out early.
Despite the age and experience gap, the matchup promises intrigue, with both players hungry to gain traction during the short but crucial grass-court window.
For Eala, who just turned 20, the Ilkley Open represents not only a chance to rebound from recent disappointments but also to fine-tune her game ahead of Wimbledon qualifiers.
And with a familiar opponent across the net, it could be the perfect springboard to get back on track.
(With reports from Luisa Morales)
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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.]