Alex Eala names WTA rival she has beaten three times as one of her closest friends: "I’m able to confide in her"

Wednesday, 23 September 2026 at 21:30

Alexandra Eala (PHI) celebrates winning the Women's Singles

Alex Eala has opened up about one of her closest friendships on the WTA Tour, describing her bond with Zeynep Sonmez and explaining why the Turkish player has become someone she trusts away from the court. The 21-year-old was asked about the friendships she has formed during her time on tour and immediately picked out Sonmez as someone particularly close to her.

Eala's comments come as she prepares to return to competition at the Singapore Open, where she is the third seed and received a bye into the second round. The Filipina will face Russian Tatiana Prozorova on Thursday morning as she looks to build on a strong run of results since returning to hard courts in late July.

The world No.18 is playing her first tournament since the US Open, where she reached the third round after victories over Mary Stoiana and Oleksandra Oliynykova. She eventually lost to her friend Iva Jovic 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 in a match that lasted more than three hours and was among the most dramatic encounters of Eala's tournament.

That came after an important stretch in Eala's season. She won her first WTA 500 title at the Washington Open, reached the fourth round at Wimbledon and then continued her progress on hard courts in New York. She has now climbed to the highest ranking of her career, with Singapore providing her next chance to add to a 10-3 record since returning to the surface.

Eala opens up on Sonmez friendship

Eala was asked about the friendships she has developed on the WTA Tour and quickly brought up Sonmez, although she did not consider their friendship particularly unexpected. The Filipina has clearly become close to the Turkish player and was quick to praise both her personality and the way she conducts herself on and off the court.

“I wouldn't say unexpected, but I'm super close with Zeynep, who's a Turkish player,” Eala said during her press conference at Singapore. “She is just so amazing. She's so inspirational, and the way she carries herself, I feel like our values align so much.”

@iamzeynepsonmez

Eala has been competing alongside Sonmez as both players have established themselves on tour, but she said their connection goes beyond simply being familiar faces at tournaments.

The two have also had to put that friendship aside on court. Eala and Sonmez have faced each other three times so far - including their most recent meeting at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Open back in February - with Eala winning all three encounters in straight sets.

Eala is currently ranked No. 18, while Sonmez sits at No. 56. The Filipina is 21 and the Turkish player is 24, but despite the gap in their rankings and their results against each other, Eala has developed a level of trust in Sonmez that goes well beyond their matches.

“I look up to her in a way where I trust her judgment so much. And I'm able to confide in her as a friend,” the Filipina added about the Turkish. “I think she's just a great role model and a great person for me to take inspiration from. So, Zeynep, yes. I love that.”

Their three meetings have all gone Eala's way, but the results have done little to define the relationship away from the court. As Eala's own profile continues to grow, Sonmez has instead become one of the people she can rely on while navigating the demands of life on the WTA Tour.

Eala returns to action in Singapore

Eala's latest challenge comes indoors in Singapore, where she will begin her campaign against Prozorova after receiving a bye as the third seed. The Russian has spent the past year picking up wins against players inside the top 100, including Janice Tjen and Donna Vekic, but has never beaten an opponent inside the top 40.

For Eala, playing indoors also provides a welcome change from the conditions she has experienced during much of the Asian swing. With Singapore's heat making outdoor tennis particularly demanding, she was happy to have the chance to compete away from the intense temperatures.

“It's great to play indoors when the heat isn't this intense. You don't get many indoor tournaments at this end of the year here in Asia. So, it's really nice. I think it creates also a great atmosphere,” the world No. 18 said. “Some of the problems here is there's a lot of noise. But yeah, and there's a lot of lights. There's tic-tac-toes.”

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The Singapore Open comes after Eala's first tournament since the US Open, where she reached the third round. She beat Mary Stoiana and Oleksandra Oliynykova before losing to her American friend Iva Jovic in one of the most dramatic matches of her tournament.

Jovic eventually prevailed 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 after more than three hours, ending Eala's run but not preventing her from leaving New York with another milestone. The result came after a strong North American hard-court swing that had already included her WTA 500 title in Washington.

Eala also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon earlier in the summer, and she has gone 10-3 since returning to hard courts in late July. Those results have taken her to No.18 in the world, the highest ranking of her career, and given her another opportunity to build on that momentum in Singapore.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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