Tennis rivalries rarely feel this warm. Two rising stars share the same sport, chase similar goals, and somehow manage to stay close. That rare balance between fierce competition and real friendship rarely gets noticed enough.
Behind every scoreline lies a person few outsiders ever really get to know. Athletes guard their personalities carefully, especially during big tournaments. Sometimes, though, a rival offers an unexpectedly honest glimpse into someone else’s character.
Fernandez praises Eala on and off court
Leylah Fernandez did not hold back when reporters asked her about Alexandra Eala this week in Singapore. She called Eala an amazing player and, more importantly, an amazing person ahead of the Singapore Tennis Open.
Fernandez said Eala is super kind and super humble away from the tennis court. She also said Eala always has a smile on her face, giving fans a rare glimpse of how fellow players see her off court.
The comments came before the Singapore Open, which is a WTA 500 event in 2026. Eala entered the event as the No. 3 seed with a first-round bye. Fernandez received a wildcard and is the No. 6 seed.
Two rivals set for Singapore Open
Both players are competing in Singapore this week at the WTA 500 event. Eala and Fernandez already know one another from the tour, and their 2026 head-to-head has added a fresh layer to the matchup.
Eala received a first-round bye and begins in the round of 16 against Tatiana Prozorova. Fernandez opened her tournament against Kyoka Okamura in round one and won 6-2, 6-3.
This marks the first year Singapore is hosting a WTA 500 tournament. The event returned to the WTA calendar as a WTA 250 in 2025 before being elevated for 2026.
Their head-to-head battles so far
Fernandez and Eala have already played twice this season in official singles matches so far in 2026. The results are evenly split at one win apiece, making their growing rivalry feel fresh and truly competitive.
Their first-ever meeting took place back in April at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany. Fernandez raced to an early lead and closed out the win 6-1, 6-4 on that clay court.
Eala got her revenge months later at a tournament held in Washington that summer. She then won that hard-court battle on her way to lifting the title, proving just how much she had improved.
A historic climb into the top 100
Alexandra Eala became the first woman from the Philippines to break into the WTA Top 100, rising from No. 140 to a career-high No. 75 after her breakthrough run at the 2025 Miami Open.
Eala achieved the milestone at age 19 after reaching the Miami semifinals. Her performance earned her a 65-place jump in the rankings and made her the first Filipina to enter the WTA Top 100.
Eala entered Miami ranked No. 140 and had previously reached a career-high ranking of No. 134. Her run in Miami propelled her past that mark and into the Top 100 for the first time.
Miami Open made Eala a household name
Eala entered the 2025 Miami Open as a wildcard ranked No. 140 and shocked 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys, and five-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek.
She beat Ostapenko, Keys, and Swiatek during that spring run. The stretch made Eala the first player from the Philippines to reach a WTA 1000 semifinal and helped turn her into a major tennis story.
Eala later said she was in complete disbelief after beating Swiatek in Miami. She also said she was on cloud nine and tried to soak up every second of it.
Filipino fans bring extra support on tour
Fernandez also praised the Filipino community for the support they bring to tennis events. She said she felt that same warm welcome when she first arrived on the professional tour.
Filipino fans have become a visible part of Eala’s matches, from Melbourne to Washington and other major stops. Their presence has helped make her one of the sport’s most closely followed rising players.
Eala has also spoken warmly about that support. At the 2026 National Bank Open, she said she hoped fans enjoyed the tennis, enjoyed the grounds, and wanted to come back.
Current form and season stats
Alexandra Eala, ranked No. 18 globally, entered the Singapore Open as the No. 3 seed. In 2026, she holds a 40-21 singles record according to the WTA, showcasing her impressive performance on the circuit.
Eala entered Singapore after losing her previous match to Iva Jovic in the third round of the US Open on Sept. 5. That defeat was a three-set battle, with Jovic winning 7-5, 3-6, 7-5.
Fernandez entered Singapore as the No. 6 seed with a WTA ranking of No. 31. She defeated Kyoka Okamura and Alycia Parks, advancing to the quarterfinals.
Little-known fact: In 2025, Eala won singles gold at the SEA Games in Bangkok, the same city where her mother, Rizza, won a bronze medal in swimming in 1985.
What this rivalry means for tennis
Fellow player Alycia Parks also praised the attention around Eala, saying it is fun and good for tennis. Fernandez’s comments added another sign that Eala’s rise is being noticed by other players on tour.
The Asian swing begins with Singapore and Seoul before moving on to larger stops in Beijing and Wuhan. The stretch gives top players several chances to build momentum late in the season.
Fans could see more Fernandez-versus-Eala matchups as both keep climbing at big events. Their small rivalry already feels meaningful after 2 meetings, and Fernandez’s public praise shows clear respect.
TL;DR
- Fernandez called Eala “an amazing player” and “an amazing person” ahead of the Singapore Open.
- Fernandez and Eala are 1-1 in their 2026 head-to-head meetings, with wins in Stuttgart and Washington.
- Eala became the first Filipina to enter the WTA Top 100, rising to No. 75 in March 2025.
- Eala’s 2025 Miami Open run included victories over Grand Slam champions Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys, and Iga Swiatek as a No. 140 wildcard.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
