Alex Eala withdraws from WTA125 Catalonia Open, turns focus to WTA1000 Italian Open

Alex Eala has pulled the plug on her participation at the WTA125 Catalonia Open as she shifts her focus toward a higher-stakes tournament next month. 

The Filipina tennis ace will instead see action at the WTA1000 Italian Open set from May 5 to 17 in Rome as she looks to improve her fortunes in her clay-court swing.

The upcoming Italian Open edition is expected to feature several high-profile players in the world like No. 1 and No. 2 stars Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina. 

World No. 4 Iga Swiatek is also listed in the event as she looks to secure her fourth title in the tournament after having won the 2021, 2022, and 2024 editions. Rybakina won it all in 2023 while the reigning champion is hometown bet Jasmine Paolini, who defeated Coco Gauff to rule the 2025 edition. 

Eala is also looking to go further in another clay event. 

The Filipina ace is coming off a Round of 64 loss at the Madrid Open, where she bowed to Belgian tennis star Elise Mertens, 6-2, 6-1. After that, Eala also made an early exit in the doubles event after she and partner Zeynep Sonmez succumbed to second-seeded pair of Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, 6-1, 7-5.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News