Alex Eala comes back from a set down to defeat former world No. 4 and Paris Olympics gold medalist Qinwen Zheng at the Mubadala DC Open Round of 32. Now, she must move past Filipino Canadian, fellow lefty, and defending champion Leylah Fernandez to book a spot in the quarterfinals.
This will be Eala and Fernandez’s second meeting after their first match in Stuttgart back in April, where the Filipino Canadian beat then-20-year-old tennis ace in straight sets.
It will be an interesting match-up as both Eala and Fernandez play left-handed. In their only previous encounter, Fernandez dominated Eala (6-1, 6-4). In the post-match interview after her win against Zheng, Eala was asked about her expectations in the lead-up to her second outing with Fernandez, who beat two top 5 players on the way to the title (Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina). “I’m expecting a tough match. I’m excited, and I know I have to bring what I have,” said Eala.
Eala herself has had quite a run on grass leading up to the hard court swing in the U.S. She made it to the finals in Birmingham, the semis in Berlin, and the fourth round of Wimbledon, after she beat former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek in straight sets in the third round.
Fernandez, after moving past the Polish Magda Linette in the previous round, awaited the winner between Eala and Zheng. In an interview, she said, “Both are coming off with great confidence, and either player is gonna be a tough match for myself. I’m just gonna focus on my own game and what I can do to neutralize them and make them uncomfortable.”
Eala vs. Fernandez at the Mubadala DC Open Round of 16 will be on July 29, 11 p.m. (Philippine Time).
Frequently Asked Questions
Alex Eala is currently ranked 28th in the WTA rankings.
Fernandez leads 1-0 after beating Eala in their only encounter at the Stuttgart Open in April.
Alex Eala is Filipino while Leylah Fernandez is of Filipino descent, as her mother is Filipino Canadian. Game-wise, both play left-handed.
Alex Eala and Leylah Fernandez will face off in the Round of 16 at the DC Open on July 29, 2026, 11 p.m. (Philippine Time).
Fernandez is looking to defend her title in DC while Eala hopes to advance to the quarterfinals in her debut at the Mubadala DC Open.
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