“I’m happy with my performance”: Alexandra Eala takes positives from Rybakina defeat in Rome

Alexandra Eala reflected on her defeat to Elena Rybakina in the Round of 32 at the Rome Open, but drew clear positives from her overall progress during the tournament, where she recorded her first back-to-back wins on clay at WTA 1000 level.

The Filipino teenager’s run ended against the world No. 2 after 92 minutes of play, in a match defined by serve dominance and efficiency in key moments from Rybakina. Despite the loss, Eala emphasised that her level across the week marked a step forward compared to her previous clay-court outings this season.

Eala entered the encounter after defeating Magda Linette in three sets and Xinyu Wang in straight sets, a sequence that confirmed gradual adaptation to the surface. Those results also represented her first sustained run on clay this year, having arrived in Rome with limited match exposure on the surface.

The result against Rybakina, however, highlighted the gap between emerging players and established top-tier contenders. The Kazakh player produced six aces and broke serve three times, controlling the match’s most decisive phases while limiting Eala’s ability to extend rallies under pressure.

Eala framed the match as a competitive test rather than a one-sided encounter, stressing that she was satisfied with parts of her performance. She said: “I’m happy with my performance," she said in an interview wwith Dyan Castillejo. "I think I was able to reach a good level of tennis.”

She also challenged the perception of a comfortable win for her opponent, underlining the margins in several games. Eala noted: “I don’t think it was an easy win for her.” The 20-year-old added that the match offered both immediate takeaways and longer-term learning points for her development on clay.

From a tactical perspective, she highlighted her ability to stay aggressive while adapting to the physical demands of the matchup. She explained: “Of course, power, sometimes being aggressive is really my game. But in the end, she’s two meters. So it’s difficult.”

Beyond the single match, Eala placed significant emphasis on her overall trajectory during the Rome Open, particularly her movement and decision-making improvements on clay. She stated: “I think I moved well today and I took my chances when I needed to.”

The tournament also reinforced her sense of progress compared to the previous season, where she struggled more to impose herself on clay. She added: “I’m very happy with this week because I do see the improvement on clay court, especially when you compare it to my experience here last year.”

Eala’s ranking impact from Rome is also notable. She is projected to rise to world No. 38 after earning 55 points, consolidating her position just outside the seeded tier at major events. The result strengthens her position heading into the remainder of the clay swing.

With minimal points to defend in the coming weeks and a consistent 2026 season so far, Eala remains well placed in the broader WTA Race standings. The focus now shifts toward sustaining this level into Roland Garros, where she will aim to translate incremental clay-court progress into deeper Grand Slam runs.