Alex Eala is about to share a court with a living legend—and she is not hiding how much it means to her.
The Filipino tennis star will partner with Venus Williams in the doubles event of the Bad Homburg Open in Germany, a pairing that is as unlikely on paper as it is compelling in practice. Williams, 14-time Grand Slam doubles champion and one of the most decorated players in the sport’s history, brings a pedigree that Eala—at 21 years old and still ascending—is fully aware of.
“I’m really excited. Venus Williams is such a trailblazer and continues to do so much and has done so much for the sport,” Eala said. “I like to say that women’s tennis has been a trailblazer for women’s sports and she is a big part of why that is.”
The Eala-Williams partnership opens against Australia’s Alexandra Osborne and American Catherine Harrison—an intriguing first-round matchup for a doubles team that nobody saw coming and everyone will be watching. Williams, most of whose Grand Slam doubles titles came alongside her sister Serena—who recently returned to competition at the HSBC Championships in London after four years away—remains a formidable doubles presence at any level.
A Partnership That Could Help Eala
For Eala, the partnership is more than a competitive opportunity. It is a chance to learn from one of the sport’s most transformative figures at a moment when the young Filipino’s own career is hitting new heights.
The ranking numbers back that up. Eala has climbed to world No. 30 in the latest WTA rankings—a five-spot jump from No. 35—and sits just one position away from matching her career-high of No. 29, set in March. A strong run at Bad Homburg could push her to a new personal best.
She arrives in Germany with some momentum. At the Berlin Open, Eala powered through to the semifinals with wins over Queen’s Club champion Donna Vekic in the first round, world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the second, and world No. 8 Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals—a run that would have turned heads regardless of where it came. Her semifinal loss to eventual champion Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic ended the run but did nothing to diminish what she had built over the week.
A disheartening loss to Belgium’s Elise Mertens in the opening round of the Bad Homburg Open followed, although the week Eala’s had still qualifies as a good one, all things considered.
Now, in doubles, she has Venus Williams on her side.
Alex Eala Next Match
Alex Eala/Venus Williams vs. Alexandra Osborne/Catherine Harrison
Tournament: WTA 500 Bad Homburg Open
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 10:00 p.m. (Time subject to change.)
Category: Doubles (Round of 16,)
