John Bryan Ulanday – The Philippine Star
December 28, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala went 1-1 in her first two events last night as she heads to a gigantic duel against world No. 9 Mirra Andreeva of Russia at the 2025 MGM Macau Tennis Masters at the Macao Forum.
Eala helped Team Li Na of China to a 4-2 win over Team Conchita Martinez of Spain in the captain’s challenge but bowed in the mixed doubles events against a pair of stronger male players on a last-minute change after the withdrawal of Andreeva.
Andreeva was feeling under the weather, prompting ATP No. 14 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain to step in with WTA No. 182 Yibing Wu of China in powerful duo for a close 7-5, 7-6(1) win against WTA No. 53 Eala and ATP No. 253 Jerry Shang of China.
But Eala stood her ground even against ATP players, proving her stature as one of the world’ rising stars with so much potential at 20 years of age.
Eala earlier teamed up with Shang and British star Jack Draper (ATP No. 10) for Team Li Na in a huge win over the stacked squad of Fokina, ATP No. 19 Jakub Menšík of Czechia and Wu.
Up next for Eala is women’s singles duel against Andreeva.