By Samantha Yu
MANILA — Filipina tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala is set to partner with Canada’s Victoria Mboko for the upcoming 2026 French Open, marking a new chapter in both players’ rising careers as they prepare to compete at Roland Garros.
The 20-year-old Eala recently competed in the Italian Open doubles event with American Hailey Baptiste but fell short of progressing further. She now shifts focus to a fresh partnership with 19-year-old Mboko, another highly regarded young talent on the women’s tour.
Although the two have only faced each other as opponents in singles matches, their history adds an intriguing layer to the pairing. Eala defeated Mboko in the 2022 US Open girls’ singles semifinals, a breakthrough moment that highlighted her historic run as the first Filipino to win a Grand Slam junior title.
Mboko has since developed into one of the sport’s emerging forces, rising to world No. 9 in the professional rankings. She later turned the tables on Eala with a three-set comeback victory at the 2024 Hong Kong Open, showcasing her growth on the tour.
Now united, the duo will test their chemistry against elite opposition, including top-seeded pair Katerina Siniakova of Czechia and Taylor Townsend of the United States, both established forces in doubles competition.
With Eala ranked No. 88 and Mboko at No. 133 in doubles, the partnership enters the French Open (May 24–June 7) as underdogs but with the potential to make noise on the clay courts of Paris.
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