By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala absorbed a tough beating at the hands of higher-ranked Marta Kostyuk, 6-0, 6-2, to crash out in the opening round of the 2025 Italian Open at the Grand Stand Arena in Rome late Wednesday, May 7 (early Thursday, May 8, Philippine time).
The world No. 70 Eala saw herself trailing throughout the rain-delayed match that had the 27th-ranked Kostyuk overpowering her in 62 minutes.
Eala attempted to regain her rhythm after holding her serve for 1-4, but it was too late as the Ukrainian banked on her aggressive forehands to take over the next two games and eventually, the match.
Despite the early defeat, Eala is still scheduled to play in the doubles where she is partnered with American Coco Gauff.
Gauff is best known to have ranked No. 1 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) doubles in 2022 and is currently No. 22. The 21-year-old boasts of a French Open doubles title with Czech partner Katerina Siniakova and was a quarterfinalist in the mixed doubles of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Eala, who has a doubles ranking of No. 456, has three International Tennis Federation (ITF) doubles titles under her belt — all from last year with different partners.
It can also be recalled that two of her three Grand Slam Junior titles came in the doubles — at the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 French Open.
