By Alona Cochon

PREPARING FOR ITALIAN OPEN. Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala starts training in Rome on Sunday (May 3, 2026) for the Italian Open. The prestigious claycourt tournament will be held at Foro Italico in Rome on May 5 to 17. (Internazionali BNL d’Italia photo)

ROME – Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala arrived here Sunday and started preparations for the 2026 Italian Open slated May 5 to 17 at Foro Italico complex.

The prestigious claycourt tournament, also known as the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, will serve as Eala’s preparation for the French Open in Paris, set May 18 to June 7.

At the 2025 edition of the Italian Open, Eala lost to Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk in the first round, 0-6, 1-6, but made it to the doubles’ quarterfinals with the United States’ Coco Gauff.

Other big names competing in the Italian Open 2026 are Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Iga Swiatek and Gauff, the World Nos. 1 to 4.

Eala is hoping to bounce back from a tough campaign at the Madrid Open, where she reached the singles’ second round.

Despite losing to 19th seed Elise Mertens of Belgium, the 20-year-old Eala still improved her ranking two notches higher to No. 42 spot. (PNA)