“It was such a fun experience”: Alexandra Eala reflects on all-male mixed doubles match in Macau

The exhibition event in Macau provided a unique tactical opening for Alexandra Eala, who stepped into the mixed doubles with a particularity: she was the only woman on court. This singular situation took place at the MGM Macau Tennis Masters, where the Filipina lined up alongside the young Chinese star Jerry Shang.

A mixed doubles duel was expected in which World No. 9 Mirra Andreeva would be the female representative on the other side, but an illness prevented her from taking the court. Instead, two men lined up: Alejandro Davidovich Fokina alongside Wu Yibing, with the latter duo securing a 7-5, 7-6(1) victory.

For Eala, the occasion was less about the final score and more about the technical familiarity shared with her partner. Having ascended through the junior ranks alongside Shang, the synergy on court was immediate. The transition from singles to doubles requires a different spatial awareness, yet Eala appeared comfortable navigating the faster pace.

"My very first mixed doubles. It was such a pleasure to share the court with Jerry,” the Filipina said later in a press conference. “We grew up playing juniors together and seeing each other in tournaments, so yeah, it was such a fun experience. I’m open; I love to play mixed doubles. We’ll see. I’m a singles player, but I’ve played mixed doubles in team competitions before, so it’s not something I shy away from."

The unique experience in Macau tennis arrived precisely one day before the much-discussed "Battle of the Sexes" exhibition that will feature Aryna Sabalenka facing Nick Kyrgios. Eala dealt with a last-minute surprise after it was announced that Andreeva would not be available for the match, but it was far from something that limited Eala's desire to take the court.

"I think it was really fun. I think there were some times the boys could have won without me, and they gave me grace, so I’m happy about that,” added the World No. 53. “Yeah, it sucks to hear that Mira was playing under the weather and couldn’t make it today. But yeah, I think we just made the most out of it. And it was a great experience and good competition anyway."

Eala was supported from the start by the captain, former Australian Open champion Li Na, who served as the captain of her team. "I think it was so nice. And it’s so nice to see that they choose to spend their holidays with us. It’s so heartwarming to see the families coming over and just the lively atmosphere here in Macau. It definitely adds to the experience. [Li Na] was telling us to have fun and, of course, just keeping the vibes good, light, and encouraging us every time."

The Filipina competed in this final event as a prelude to the start of the 2026 season, where her first challenge will be at the WTA 250 Auckland, where she will be the 4th seed. She will join a draw that includes players such as Elina Svitolina, Emma Navarro, and Iva Jovic, and it will be her only preparatory tournament before competing in the first major of the year.

"I’m so excited. I’ve been preparing this whole pre-season. I haven’t had much success in the Australian Open in the qualies before, so I’m hoping that will change in the main draw. Every year is a different story. So I’m so open and so eager to be out on that court."

This will be Eala's debut in the Australian Open main draw, after falling in the first round of qualifying for the last three consecutive years. Back in 2025, the Filipina made her Grand Slam main draw debuts at Roland Garros, Wimbledon, and the US Open, although she only secured one victory at Flushing Meadows before being eliminated in the second round by Cristina Bucsa. This time, the 20-year-old will look to advance deeper into the tournament and gain points at the start of the year that will allow her to continue climbing the WTA rankings.