By Denise de Young
MANILA — Filipina tennis standout Alex Eala is set to launch her North American hard-court campaign as she begins her preparations for the 2026 US Open with a stint at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C.
The WTA 500 tournament, scheduled from July 25 to Aug. 2, will serve as Eala’s first event since her impressive Wimbledon campaign and an important stop in her buildup to the season’s final Grand Slam.
Eala is expected to compete in both the singles and doubles events. In the doubles draw, she will once again join forces with former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam singles champion Venus Williams, renewing a partnership that has previously drawn attention on the tour.
The tournament provides the Filipina rising star with a valuable opportunity to adjust to the hard courts and sharpen her form before heading to New York for the US Open, which is slated from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
Following her encouraging performances on grass, Eala now shifts her focus to the hard-court season, where she hopes to sustain her momentum and continue climbing the professional rankings.
The North American swing features several high-level tournaments that are expected to help Eala fine-tune her game against elite competition ahead of one of the biggest events on the tennis calendar.
With both singles and doubles action awaiting her in Washington, Eala opens the next chapter of her 2026 season intending to carry her recent success into the year’s final major championship.
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