Alex Eala is looking to regain her winning form as she prepares to face France’s Diane Parry in the opening round of the 2026 Ningbo Open, a WTA 500 tournament in China beginning October 19.
The 21-year-old Filipina, currently ranked World No. 19, enters the competition after a challenging stretch on the Asian tennis circuit. Following an impressive campaign at the US Open, Eala has struggled to maintain her earlier momentum, suffering defeats in Singapore, the Asian Games, and Wuhan.
Her recent setbacks include a three-set loss to Russia’s Tatiana Prozorova in Singapore and a semifinal defeat to China’s Wang Xiyu at the Asian Games, where Eala ultimately earned a bronze medal for the Philippines. She then bowed out of the Wuhan Open after another three-set contest against Chinese qualifier Shi Han, extending her difficult run.
The challenge in Ningbo will be no easier. Parry, ranked World No. 32, claimed her first WTA singles championship at the Monterrey Open in August and reached the fourth round of this year’s French Open. The 24-year-old Frenchwoman is also seeking to recover from early exits at the China Open and Wuhan Open, setting up a first-round meeting between two players eager to reverse their recent fortunes.
A victory would move Eala into the second round, where she would face either Diana Shnaider or a qualifier. The tournament features a competitive field led by defending champion Elena Rybakina, alongside Iga Świątek, Marta Kostyuk, and Iva Jovic.
Despite her recent losses, Eala remains among the world’s top 20 players after a breakthrough season that included a championship in Washington and deep runs at major international tournaments. Her progress has raised expectations, but it has also placed her in increasingly competitive draws where maintaining consistency is essential.
The Ningbo Open presents another opportunity for the Filipina to rebuild confidence ahead of the final stretch of the season. For Eala, the immediate objective is not another historic milestone, but a strong performance against a proven opponent and a return to the form that propelled her up the world rankings.
Image from WANG Zhao