Alex Eala defeated Wang Xinyu 6-4, 6-3 on Friday to reach the third round of the Italian Open for the first time in her career on clay. The world No. 42 Filipina recovered from an early deficit against the higher-ranked Chinese player at the Foro Italico in Rome. She will next face the winner between Elena Rybakina and Maria Sakkari.
The 22-year-old Eala trailed 0-3 in the opening set but broke Wang twice to seize the lead and close out the set 6-4. She maintained her momentum in the second set, overcoming a 2-3 deficit to win the final four games and complete the match in one hour and 23 minutes.
This result marks a step forward on clay for Eala, who had exited early in her previous three clay tournaments this year. Her most recent comparable achievement on the surface came during the 2024 French Open qualifying rounds, when she reached the third round.
The victory also provides redemption after Wang defeated Eala in the semifinals of the ASB Classic in January. Their head-to-head record now stands at 1-1.
