Alex Eala takes issue with Madrid Open organisers after tough loss to Elise Mertens

Alex Eala knocked out of Madrid Open amid scheduling complaints

Alex Eala lost in straight sets to Elise Mertens, 2-6, 1-6, in the second round of the Madrid Open.

The scoreline reflected a one-sided affair, with Eala unable to trouble her opponent in either set. It wasn’t just the result that left a bad taste, though. She was handed a late-night timeslot for her first-round match – an unusual slot compared to the rest of the draw.

She wrapped up her opening win over Sara Sorribes Tormo after midnight local time and was back on court against Mertens less than 24 hours later.

Alex Eala wasn’t put on a big enough stage for her second-round match

Eala’s following goes far beyond the rankings. She’s yet to win a major title or break into the top 20, but her matches are always well attended, and fans turn out in big numbers wherever she plays.

Filipino supporters, in particular, travel far and wide to back her at events around the world.

And that loyal backing hasn’t gone unnoticed. In most tournaments, Eala is regularly scheduled on bigger courts than her ranking might suggest.

The Madrid Open took a different approach for her match against Mertens.

She opened the tournament on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium but was moved to Court 5 for round two, which noticeably limited the crowd size she’s used to drawing.

It wasn’t just about atmosphere; smaller courts mean less energy from fans and fewer voices backing every point. While there’s no way of knowing if it would have changed the result, being in front of a larger crowd might have helped her stay more competitive during tough spells against Mertens.

The court assignment wasn’t the only issue either. Late in the second set, Eala was warned by the umpire for slow play with five seconds left on the shot clock. She pushed back, asking why there hadn’t been an initial warning before the penalty was issued:

The warning seemed harsh given how rarely it gets enforced so strictly early in matches and added another layer of frustration to an already difficult day.

Alex Eala still has doubles action ahead before her return to the WTA Challenger Tour

Eala will still have more action this weekend, pairing up with Sonmez against the second-seeded duo of Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend.

They’ll be clear underdogs in that matchup, so it would take something special for them to advance.

Should they bow out early, Eala’s next stop will be La Bisbal for the 2026 Catalonia Open.

She’s set to enter as the sixth seed in a WTA 125 Challenger field that includes several familiar faces.

The step down in level gives her a good opportunity to build some form by facing lower-ranked competition.

Even a couple of wins could provide a much-needed boost as she moves deeper into the clay-court season, though she won’t be among the top picks to win the event.

After her time in Spain, Eala heads to Italy for two more stops on her calendar. First up is the Italian Open, where she’ll look to improve on last year’s first-round exit.

Following that, she’ll compete in another Challenger event in Parma, where she holds the third seed spot.

The busy stretch wraps up with her second appearance in the main draw at Roland-Garros, starting on May 24th.

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