Sports · Tennis · 3 hrs ago
Alexandra Eala faces Diane Parry in Ningbo Open first round
Alexandra Eala will begin the Ningbo Open against Diane Parry in China, after the tournament draw was confirmed.
The 21-year-old from the Philippines is trying to recover from a difficult stretch on the Asian swing, including early exits at recent professional tournaments and a bronze medal at the Asian Games.
Eala won her first WTA title in Washington earlier this year, making the recent results a setback in an otherwise strong season.
Parry, from France, is ranked 32nd and won her first career title in Monterrey this year, though she has lost her last four matches.
A win would send Eala into a demanding potential path, with Diana Shnaider a possible second-round opponent and Iva Jovic or Jasmine Paolini possible in the quarterfinals.
Top seed Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek could await in the semifinals and final, respectively, if Eala advances that far.
The WTA 500 tournament runs from October 19 to 25, and Eala is also signed up for the Hong Kong Open in November.
Alexandra Eala will face France’s Diane Parry in the first round of the Ningbo Open in China.
The WTA 500 tournament is scheduled to run from October 19 to 25.
Eala, ranked world No. 19, is seeking to end a run of early exits and regain form after recent losses on the Asian swing.
Parry is ranked world No. 32 and won the Monterrey title earlier this year.
If Eala advances, she could meet Diana Shnaider in the second round.
- Who
- Alexandra Eala and Diane Parry.
- What
- They are set to meet in the first round of the Ningbo Open.
- When
- The tournament is scheduled to begin on October 19, 2026.
- Where
- Ningbo, China.
- Why
- Eala is looking to regain form and end a run of early exits.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Eala won her first WTA title in Washington.
Eala won a bronze medal after losing to Wang Xiyu in the semifinals.
Eala lost in the first round to qualifier Han Shi.
The Ningbo Open is scheduled to take place.
- First-round opponent
- Diane Parry
- Tournament
- WTA 500 Ningbo Open
- Dates
- October 19–25, 2026
- Eala ranking
- World No. 19
- Parry ranking
- World No. 32
- Possible second-round opponent
- Diana Shnaider
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At the end of the day, being a professional tennis player and a competitive tennis player, losing is part of the job and losing is always a possibility