Alexandra Eala to Face Alycia Parks in Australian Open Debut

Dubai: Filipina tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala is ready to make her Australian Open main draw debut, taking on world No. 100 Alycia Parks from the United States on Sunday, January 18.

At just 20, Eala has already reached a career-high ranking of No. 49 and comes into the tournament in excellent form. Her recent performances show she is peaking at the perfect time.

Eala in Top Form

Eala impressed at the WTA ASB Classic in Auckland, reaching the semifinals. She then dominated an exhibition match against Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic at the Kooyong Classic. These wins have boosted her confidence ahead of her Grand Slam debut.

Parks Brings Power and Experience

Alycia Parks, 25, is a dangerous opponent despite her ranking. Known for her powerful serve, she holds the record for the fastest serve in US Open history at 129 mph, a mark she shares with Venus Williams. Parks won the 2023 Lyon Open and reached the third round of the Australian Open two years ago.

First Meeting on Tour

Sunday’s match will be the first time Eala and Parks meet on the WTA Tour. For Eala, it marks another milestone, completing her appearances in the main draws of all four Grand Slam tournaments.

What’s at Stake

“I want to say this is the best I’ve ever played,” Eala said after her Melbourne warm-up matches. “I feel I’m in a good moment, so I hope to keep the momentum going.”

If she defeats Parks, Eala will face a tough second-round match against either world No. 19 Karolína Muchová, a former French Open finalist, or Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian, ranked 37th.