‘New year, new story’: Eala continues sizzling 2026 start with demolition of Marcinko

MANILA, Philippines – The new year has been good to Alex Eala.

After a rather inauspicious end to her 2025 season on tour, Eala is off to a sizzling start this 2026 as she advanced to the quarterfinals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand, following a clinical 6-0, 6-2 win over Croatia’s Petra Marcinko on Thursday, January 8.

The victory marked the first time the Filipina reached the last eight of a WTA Tour event after early exits in her previous four tournaments last year, not including her golden run in the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December.

“I think every start of the year comes differently. New year, new story, and that goes for everybody, I think. I’m happy with how I’m starting,” said Eala.

Eala last made the quarterfinals in the Suzhou Open before she wrapped up her 2025 tour campaign with four losses in five matches, exiting the qualifying first round of the Wuhan Open, the first rounds of the Japan Open and Guangzhou Open, and second round of the Hong Kong Tennis Open.

The 20-year-old somehow made up for those string of defeats by capturing her first-ever SEA Games gold medal.

But Eala has turned her fortunes around as she opened 2026 with three straight triumphs, teaming up with Iva Jovic to stun legends Venus Williams and Elina Svitolina in doubles then surviving Paris Olympics silver medalist Donna Vekic in the first round of singles.

While it took Eala 2 hours and 40 minutes to dispose of Vekic, she needed just a little over an hour to brush world No. 82 Marcinko aside.

“I feel amazing. I’m so happy with how I was able to compete and handle the different situations on court. It’s never easy to play Petra, she’s obviously a very good player and she’s been doing really well. I’m happy with how I played and how I handled it,” said Eala.

Eala served up a bagel in the opening set as she broke Marcinko thrice and then recovered from a 2-1 deficit in the second set by winning the next five games.

As dominant as her victory, though, Eala said the match did not come without a challenge.

“Comfortable is a stretch, it’s difficult, everybody — especially at this level — gives you certain challenges. But I’m happy with how I played,” said Eala.

Ranked No. 53 in the world, Eala will face Poland’s Magda Linette next.

Eala and Jovic are also through the doubles semifinals with a walkover victory over Czech Republic’s Jesika Maleckova and Mexico’s Renata Zarazua. – Rappler.com