Alex Eala kicks off Ningbo Open campaign with win over Diane Parry

VICTORY. Filipina tennis star Alex Eala advances to the round of 16 at the Ningbo Open after defeating France's Diane Parry.

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Filipina tennis star Alex Eala advances to the round of 16 at the Ningbo Open after defeating France's Diane Parry in straight sets

MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala got off to a strong start at the Ningbo Open in China as she defeated France’s Diane Parry, 6-3, 6-1, in the round-of-32 match on Monday, October 19. 

The match, which lasted one hour and 17 minutes, had seen the two players tie at 3-3 before Eala found her momentum to eventually defeat Parry in straight sets. 

The 21-year-old Filipina will advance to the round of 16 and will face either sixth-seeded Diana Shnaider of Russia or qualifier Yulia Putintseva of Kazakhstan.

“I’m very happy with my performance. I think it was a really good first round, a tough first round. Diane is a great player and I think she’s had a really good year so congrats to her for the year she’s done. I’m really happy to be in the second round,” Eala, who’s currently ranked world No. 20, said in a post-game interview.

The Filipina tennis ace’s Ningbo Open victory came just after her early exit at the Wuhan Open, where she conceded to World No. 177 Shi Han of China, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, in the round of 64. 

Previously, Eala had also settled for bronze at the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, after absorbing a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 loss at the hand of China’s Wang Xiyu in the semifinals of the women’s singles. – Rappler.com