A grudge match is set for Alex Eala and Jelena Ostapenko in the Round of 16 of the Eastbourne Open.
Alex Eala will look to prove her breakthrough win was no fluke as she faces world No. 20 and third seed Jelena Ostapenko in a much-anticipated Round of 16 rematch at the Eastbourne Open on Tuesday, June 25, at 9:30 p.m. (Manila time).
The 19-year-old Filipina rising star stunned Ostapenko earlier this year at the Miami Open, where she carved out a gritty 7-6(2), 7-5 victory that helped ignite a career-defining run.
That stretch saw Eala topple former Grand Slam champion Madison Keys and then-world No. 2 Iga Swiatek, launching her into the WTA Top 75 and earning main draw spots in Grand Slams.
Now, Eala finds herself in familiar territory — going up against a top-tier opponent eager for payback.
Ostapenko, a former French Open champion, will be gunning for redemption after seeing her Miami campaign derailed by the young Filipina. The Latvian veteran is also using Eastbourne as part of her fine-tuning ahead of Wimbledon, where she’s expected to make a deep run.
[READ: Ostapenko drubs English foe to set up Eala rematch in Eastbourne Open]
This marks the second time Eala will face a former Miami Open foe in a high-stakes rematch, following her three-set loss to Swiatek in the Madrid Open earlier this season.
Against Ostapenko, the challenge is equally daunting — but it also opens another chance for Eala to reinforce her status as one of the most fearless young names on tour.
Coming off impressive wins in the qualifiers and a main draw victory against world No. 61 Lucia Bronzetti, Eala enters the Round of 16 with growing confidence and momentum — and another giant in her sights.
(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.]