Alex Eala Advances to Round of 16 in Portugal

OEIRAS, Portugal — Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala booked her spot in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Oeiras Ladies Open after a gritty 6-3, 6-4 win over Dutch opponent Anouk Koevermans in a rain-disrupted Round of 32 match on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old, seeded No. 1 in the WTA125 tournament and currently ranked world No. 72, overcame both a weather delay and a second-set deficit to outlast Koevermans, who entered the match ranked No. 182.

Eala led 3-2 in the second set when the match was first interrupted by rain for 20 minutes, only to be further delayed for 24 hours due to persistent inclement weather.

She returned to the court trailing 2-4 but staged a remarkable comeback by winning the next four games to seal the straight-sets victory.

“The weather definitely presented some challenges,” Eala said after the match. “I’m happy how I came back out on the court.”

The win follows a career-defining run at the Miami Open last week, where Eala reached the semifinals and stunned three former Grand Slam champions, including world No. 1 and four-time French Open winner Iga Swiatek.

Eala’s performance in Miami catapulted her into the global spotlight and earned her a career-high WTA ranking ahead of the European clay-court season.

Now competing on clay, the surface historically known for its slower pace and high bounce, Eala is using the Oeiras tournament as a tune-up for her anticipated debut in the main draw of the French Open.

“I’ve done everything that I can do to prepare for the surface,” she said. “I cannot control the outcome, but I can control my level on the court.”

Eala, a former US Open girls’ champion and Rafael Nadal Academy scholar, has been steadily rising through the professional ranks since transitioning from juniors in 2022.

The Oeiras Ladies Open is part of the WTA 125 series, a circuit that provides key ranking points and competitive experience for rising stars and seasoned pros alike.

Despite playing far from home, Eala credited the local Filipino supporters in Portugal for lifting her spirits during the rain-soaked match.

“There are Filipinos everywhere in the world, so I’m happy,” she said with a smile.

Eala now prepares for her Round of 16 match, where she will continue her quest for a second WTA125 title and vital momentum heading into Roland Garros.

The 2025 French Open is set to begin later this May in Paris, where Eala is widely expected to make her main draw debut — a potential milestone in what is shaping up to be her breakout season on the women’s tour.