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Alex Eala beats Wang Xinyu in straight sets to reach Italian Open third round
The world No. 42 Filipina came back from a 0-3 deficit in the first set to stun the higher-ranked Chinese player 6-4, 6-3 at the Foro Italico in Rome on May 8, 2026. The victory marks the first time Eala has advanced to the third round of a WTA Tour clay main draw. She will next face the winner of Elena Rybakina and Maria Sakkari.
May 8, 7:56 AM·1m read1 source
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Alex Eala defeated Wang Xinyu of China 6-4, 6-3 on May 8, 2026 at the Foro Italico in Rome to advance to the third round of the main draw of a WTA Tour clay event for the first time in her career. The match between Alex Eala and Wang Xinyu lasted 1 hour and 23 minutes. Eala is ranked world No.
42 while Wang Xinyu is ranked world No. 33. Alex Eala won four consecutive games after trailing 0-3 to lead 4-3 in the first set against Wang Xinyu.
The score was tied 4-4 in the first set before Alex Eala won the set 6-4 against Wang Xinyu. Alex Eala trailed 2-3 in the second set before winning the final four games to defeat Wang Xinyu 6-3. The Philippines' player recovered from being broken twice in the first three games as Wang raced to the early lead, but Eala broke the Chinese player twice in response to seize control.
The win improved the head-to-head record between Alex Eala and Wang Xinyu to 1-1 after their May 8, 2026 match. Alex Eala lost to Wang Xinyu in three sets in the semifinals of the ASB Classic in New Zealand in January 2026. Alex Eala's last prior instance of winning at least two matches in a clay tournament was reaching the third round of qualifying at the 2024 French Open.
She reached the final of the Eastbourne Open one year before the 2026 Italian Open. The 2026 Italian Open is a WTA 1000 event. Alex Eala will next face the winner of the match between Elena Rybakina and Maria Sakkari at the 2026 Italian Open.
Elena Rybakina is ranked world No. 2. Rappler reported that it seems Alex Eala is slowly finding her footing on clay after early exits in her first three clay tournaments of the year. The article was published on May 8, 2026 at 7:56 PM PHT and was written by Delfin Dioquino.
