After her US Open stint, Alex Eala is back in action with a clash against world no. 187 Arianne Hartono at the Guadalajara 125 Open.
Alex Eala is back in action after her US Open exit, facing Dutch player Arianne Hartono in the first round of the Guadalajara 125 Open at Zapopan, Mexico on Wednesday (PH time).
The 20-year-old Filipina tennis ace already faced Hartono thrice before, winning all of their previous matchups.
[READ: Alex Eala headed to Mexico for Abierto Zapopan after breakthrough US Open stint]
Hartono turned pro back in 2016, when Eala was just 11-years-old and has since claimed three titles in the ITF in singles, and 21 in ITF doubles tournaments.
In the WTA Tour, Hartono has reached three challenger Finals in doubles — the same level of the Guadalajara 125 Open — where she finished runner-up all three times. Her most recent final was at the Hall of Fame Open in the US where she fell against American duo Carmen Corley and Ivana Corley.
All her three finals stints in doubles at the WTA Challenger level were done with India’s Prarthana Thombare as her partner.
The 29-year-old has a career-high ranking in singles as world no. 135, which she achieved in April 2024. She is currently down to world no. 187. Meanwhile, Eala is currently ranked no. 75.
Eala is also the 2-seed in the tournament even as a wild card, while Hartono is unseeded.
Eala and Hartono last met at the W100 tournament at Bengaluru in India earlier this year, where Eala won in dominating fashion, 6-2, 6-1. Eala also swept Hartono in Canberra back in January.
Seeking a bounce back after her exit against lower-ranked Cristina Bucsa at the US Open, Eala will be looking for another commanding win over Hartono to start the final stretch of her 2025 season. The match is scheduled for 3:20 a.m.