Alex Eala will once again face a very familiar opponent in the Round of 16 of the HSBC Championships as she squares off against her close friend, Iva Jovic.
The two even partnered up twice with Eala this season. Back in January, they reached the semifinals of the ASB Classic in New Zealand. Then in March, the two suffered a first-round exit at the Indian Wells Open.
Eala and Jovic then faced off at Roland Garros, and the 18-year-old Jovic came out victorious.
Eala and Jovic Duke It Out on Grass
Interestingly, this is only the first grass-court tournament for the American teenager after her third-round exit at the French Open last May 30. The world No. 19, who is seeded sixth in the tournament, defeated Antonia Ružić in her own Round of 32 match.
That doesn’t mean she is easy pickings on grass. After the WTA 125 Ilkley trophy she won last year, the young star has already proven that she can succeed on this surface.
Eala herself has proven she can excel on grass, winning the 2026 WTA 125 Lexus Birmingham Open just recently. She then opened her HSBC Championships campaign with a commanding win over China’s Shuai Zhang.
Alex Eala Next Match
Alex Eala vs. Iva Jovic
Tournament: WTA 500 Queen’s Club Championship / The HSBC Championships
Date: Wednesday, June 10 at 6:30 p.m. (Time subject to change)
Category: Singles (Round of 16, Main Draw)
