Alexandra Eala is again focusing on singles and doubles at the latest WTA Tour event, which is now well underway in Rome.
Eala is unseeded at the WTA 1000 tournament in the Italian capital, where she was forced to work extremely hard in her singles opener.
The Filipina superstar played out a lengthy battle with Magdalena Frech at the Italian Open, which she won 6-0, 3-6, 6-4.
Eala then defeated Wang Xinyu 6-4, 6-3 in the second round, setting up a blockbuster clash with Elena Rybakina.
Just before that match, however, she received a boost after being confirmed in the Italian Open doubles draw.
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Alexandra Eala faces daunting Italian Open doubles clash
Eala and her partner Hailey Baptiste were the number one alternates in Rome, but have now found their way into the draw.
They have, however, been handed the hugely daunting task of competing against the second seeds in their opening match.
Eala and Baptiste will take on Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, who have already gone down as one of the greatest pairings ever.
Both multiple Grand Slam champions in the format, the former is the current WTA doubles number one and boasts 36 career titles, including four this season.
And the latter boasts 15 career titles and is currently world number two, having also climbed to the summit once upon a time.
Siniakova and Townsend only just lifted the trophy in Madrid, where they defeated Eala and Zeynep Sonmez en route to the title.
Notably, should the Filipina ace make it through that formidable challenge in Rome, she and Baptiste face another tricky test against Romanian duo Jaqueline Cristian and Sorana Cirstea.
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Alexandra Eala, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff in star-studded Rome doubles draw
Eala and Baptiste are helping form a star-studded doubles tournament at the Italian Open, alongside Townsend and Siniakova.
Also playing a key role is WTA number five Jessica Pegula, who is linking up with Storm Hunter to take on Erin Routliffe and Jelena Ostapenko in their opener.
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Pegula’s fellow American Coco Gauff is another singles star playing doubles in Rome, having already won her first match with compatriot Caty McNally.
But all eyes are undoubtedly on home favorites Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani, who are chasing a third successive title.
They are the top seeds at the Italian Open, and intriguingly start out against compatriots Vittoria Paganetti and Gaia Maduzzi.
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