Alex Eala at French Open 2026: What to know

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala returns to the French Open for her second straight main draw appearance, looking to build on her breakthrough rise over the past year at Roland Garros.

READ: Alex Eala proves she’s earned her place among world’s best

The Filipino tennis ace opens her campaign on Monday (Philippine time) against American teen Iva Jovic.

Eala’s French Open Schedule

Monday, May 25

TBD – Alex Eala vs Iva Jovic

Eala’s clay court campaign

Eala, who recently turned 21, completed her first full clay-court season on the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tour.

The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate posted a 4-5 record across five clay tournaments.

Article continues after this advertisement

READ: Alex Eala, Janice Tjen bring ‘sense of pride’ to French Open

Eala’s best showing was in the Italian Open, reaching the round of 32 after beating Magdalena Frech and Wang Xinyu.

Eala then pushed World No. 2 Elena Rybakina before bowing out, 4-6, 3-6.

The World No.38 Eala reached the second round of the Linz Open but lost to Jelena Ostapenko, 4-6, 5-7. She also faced Canadian star Leylah Fernandez in the Stuttgart Open but bombed out in the first round, 1-6, 4-6.

At the Madrid Open, Eala reached the round of 64 before absorbing a 2-6, 1-6 defeat to Elise Mertens.

In the Strasbourg Open–her final tournament before Roland Garros–Eala exited in the first round after a 6-3, 5-7, 3-6 loss to Ukrainian qualifier Oleksandra Oliynykova.

Eala’s French Open history

Fresh off her dream semifinal run in the Miami Open last year, Eala made her Grand Slam main draw debut at the 2025 French Open.

She dropped the opening set to Emiliana Arango without winning a game but recovered to force a decider before losing, 0-6, 6-2, 3-6.

In 2024, Eala almost reached the main draw, but she fell short in the final qualifying match against Julia Riera, 6-4, 6(3)-7, 4-6.

The 5-foot-9 lefty reached the last stage of the French Open qualifiers after beating Ma Yexin and Taylah Preston.

Eala also won the 2021 French Open girls’ doubles title with Russian partner Oksana Selekhmeteva and reached the second round of the women’s doubles event last year with Mexican partner Renata Zarazúa.

Eala’s French Open path

Eala takes on Iva Jovic, a sometime doubles partner and a close friend, for the first time in a singles match in the first round of the French Open.

The Filipino and American teamed up twice this year and reached the ASB Classic semifinal. They had a round of 32 exit in the Indian Wells.

Jovic, 18, reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and is currently World No. 17.

If Eala advances, she will face the winner between Emma Navarro and Janice Tjen in the second round.

Eala shares the same bracket as 18th seed Naomi Osaka, Laura Siegemund, Donna Vekic, and Alice Tubello.

Click here to read article