Alex Eala to face Han Shi in Wuhan Open first round

Alex Eala will face China’s Han Shi in the first round of the Wuhan Open, a WTA 1000 tennis tournament in China.

The match is scheduled for Monday, 12 October, on outdoor hard courts in Wuhan, likely around 9 p.m.

local time.

Eala, who is ranked 18th in the world, is seeded 13th but must play in the first round because only the top eight seeds receive a bye.

She missed the China Open while representing the Philippines at the Asian Games, where she won bronze.

Shi, 21 and ranked 231st, earned her place in the main draw by winning two qualifying matches, including a victory over top seed Peyton Stearns.

The players have not met before, and Eala is seeking her first win at the Wuhan Open.

The winner will next face either Ekaterina Alexandrova or Leylah Fernandez.