ALEX Eala faces 5-time WTA champ Leylah Fernandez at the WTA 500 Stuttgart Open first round in Germany set on Monday.
The match is set at 4 p.m. in Manila barring any changes or delay, with the round of 32 match shaping up to interest Filipino fans.
Of course, Eala is the best bet being a homegrown Filipino talent but Fernandez is of Filipino descent with her mother being a Filipino Canadian while his father an Ecuadorian.
Ranked No. 25 at the WTA Tour with a career-high of No. 13, Fernandez has also been vocal about how she embraces her Filipino roots that traces to Paoay and Leyte through her grandparents in her mother's side.
The 23-year-old Fernandez is a formidable foe for Eala, having reached a Grand Slam final as a 19-year-old and finishing second to British Emma Raducanu at the US Open 2021.
Fernandez won two of her five titles last year, ruling the 250 Japan Women's Open and the 500 Washington Open.
The 5-foot-6 netter last saw action at the Charleston Open more than week ago, exiting the tournament with a 3-6, 0-6 loss to Diana Shnaider.
On the other hand, the 5-foot-9 Eala last competed at the Linz Open as she bowed to Jelena Ostapenko in the round of 16, 4-6, 5-7, last week.
Whle Fernandez is significantly ranked higher than Eala, the homegrown Filipino has been the better player this season with respectable finish in high level tournaments.
Eala, who reached a career-best No. 29 last month, generated 772 points so far this season for No. 16 in the WTA Finals race where Fernandez is only No. 49 with 381.
Eala reached the quarterfinal of the Dubai Tennis Championships where she also beat world No. 8 Jasmine Paolini.
Paolini is a potential opponent for Eala if she beat Fernandez or vice versa.
Paolini will begin her campaign against a qualifier.