Alex Eala overcomes Magdalena Frech in Italian Open first round

Alex Eala pumps her fist after taking a point against Poland’s Magdalena Frech in their Italian Open 2026 first round match in Rome.–WTA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala survived a feisty first-round affair against Pole Magdalena Frech, 6-0, 3-6, 6-4, in the 2026 Italian Open on Wednesday (Manila time) at Pietrangeli Court of the Foro Italico in Rome.

Eala battled back from a 1-3 deficit in the decider to secure a much-needed win after what has been a challenging campaign on clay so far.

READ: Alex Eala’s tough Italian Open bid starts vs Pole Magdalena Frech

Fought through in three 💪

Alex Eala defeats Frech 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 in Rome!#IBI26 pic.twitter.com/hhzr7SlbyV

— wta (@WTA) May 6, 2026

After pulling off a bagel in the opening set, Eala had to dig a little deeper with Frech making the adjustments and refusing to go down without a fight.

Frech, however, shot herself in the foot with her forehand struggles all throughout the match.

The tough test against Frech is just the start for what is expected to be a gauntlet for Eala in the WTA 1000 event.

The 20-year-old Eala, who recently improved to No. 42, advanced to the round-of-64 against Chinese World No. 33 Xinyu Wang, who drew a bye into the second round.

READ: Alex Eala, World No. 42, warms up ahead of return at Italian Open

Wang outlasted Eala in three sets in the ASB Classic semifinal in Auckland, New Zealand last January.

If Eala beats Wang, a match-up with World No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the third round likely awaits.

Eala got past the opening round in Rome for the first time in her young career. She was outclassed by Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk, 6-0, 6-1, in the first round last year.