Alexandra Eala returned to winning form at the Ningbo Open after a difficult run of results. The Filipino tennis player defeated France’s Diane Parry 6-3, 6-1 in the first round of the WTA 500 tournament in China. The victory ended Eala’s three-match losing streak at tour level. It also gave her an important confidence boost as she continued her 2026 season.
Alexandra Eala defeats Diane Parry
Eala faced early resistance from Parry in the opening set. Both players exchanged breaks before reaching a 3-3 scoreline. Eala then raised her level and won three consecutive games to take the set 6-3. The Filipino star continued her strong performance in the second set. She quickly built a 4-0 lead and kept Parry under pressure. Although Parry won one game, Eala maintained control and secured a 6-1 victory.
The match lasted one hour and 17 minutes. Eala produced 12 winners and committed nine unforced errors. Parry recorded 11 winners but made 25 unforced errors. These statistics highlighted Eala’s consistency throughout the match. Her effective returning also helped her control the contest.
Eala Focuses on consistency
Eala arrived in Ningbo after early defeats in Singapore and Wuhan. Her victory over Parry provided an opportunity to regain momentum. She entered the tournament ranked world No. 20 and had reached a career-high ranking of No. 18 earlier in 2026. Her latest performance also helped her improve her position in the live rankings. However, Eala has emphasized consistency rather than chasing specific ranking targets. She wants to win more matches, stay healthy and improve her performance throughout the demanding tennis season.
A successful season for the Filipino star
The 2026 season has brought significant progress for Eala. Before this year, she had recorded 15 career wins at tour level. Her victory over Parry marked her 34th tour-level win of the season. She also claimed her first WTA Tour singles title in Washington. In 2025, Eala reached the Miami Open semifinals, becoming the first Filipino player to achieve that milestone at a WTA 1000 event. Eala began playing tennis at age four and later trained at the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain.
What comes next for Alexandra Eala?
Eala’s next challenge in Ningbo is a round-of-16 match against sixth seed Diana Shnaider. The match offers another opportunity to build confidence and strengthen her position. A strong performance could help Eala maintain her momentum and finish the season positively. Her comeback against Parry marks an important step toward achieving greater consistency.
