Alex Eala begins her Suzhou Open WTA 125 campaign against Polish veteran Katarzyna Kawa in the Round of 32. Eala is eyeing a strong finish in the Asian swing after falling in the semifinals of the Jingshan Open.
Recent Highlights and Matches
Alex Eala
The 20-year-old Filipina continues her stellar 2025 season, sitting at a career-high WTA No. 61. Eala’s year has been defined by breakthrough performances, including a Miami Open semifinal run where she upset Madison Keys, Jelena Ostapenko, and world No. 2 Iga Świątek. She also reached her first WTA final at Eastbourne and claimed her maiden Grand Slam main-draw win at the US Open over No. 14 Clara Tauson.
Most recently, Eala captured the Guadalajara WTA 125 title before a quarterfinal finish in São Paulo and a semifinal appearance in Jingshan, cementing her as one of the most in-form players entering Suzhou.
Katarzyna Kawa
The 32-year-old Polish veteran currently sits outside the Top 200 but brings years of tour experience across both WTA and ITF circuits. Known for her baseline consistency and tactical play, Kawa thrives when matches turn into long rallies. While she hasn’t had a major breakthrough on the WTA stage, she owns multiple ITF titles and once peaked inside the Top 130.
Kawa holds a key mental edge over Eala, having defeated her in their only previous meeting at Templeton in 2022 (2–6, 6–4, 6–0).
Head-to-Head Record
Overall: Kawa leads 1–0
Last Meeting: Kawa def. Eala, 2–6, 6–4, 6–0 (Templeton, 2022 – Hard Court)
Key Factors
Form & Confidence – Eala
Eala’s recent hard-court title run and top-70 ranking status underline her confidence and maturity at this level.
Experience Edge – Kawa
At 32, Kawa has seen every type of opponent and won’t be intimidated. Her prior win over Eala gives her belief that she can repeat the upset.
Ranking Disparity
Eala (WTA 61) has a massive rankings cushion over Kawa (outside Top 200), suggesting a gap in current form and consistency.
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Betting Odds (Estimated)
Eala: 1.25 (favorite)
Kawa: 3.75 – 4.50 (underdog)
Oddsmakers place Eala as the heavy favorite, but Kawa’s prior success in this matchup keeps the door open for a possible surprise.
Where to Watch in the Philippines
SPOTV / SPOTV NOW – Official Southeast Asia broadcaster & streaming service
TAP Sports / Premier Sports (Cignal, Blast TV) – Local sublicensed coverage
WTA TV – Official WTA streaming platform (where available)
Match Outlook & Prediction
This first-round clash blends Eala’s rising-star momentum with Kawa’s veteran grit. While the Pole’s prior victory over Eala is a factor, the Filipina’s growth since then — with wins over top-20 players and a WTA title this season — suggests the balance has shifted.
Expect Eala to impose her variety and aggressive baseline game, forcing errors and dictating rallies. Kawa may test her patience, but Eala’s superior shot tolerance and confidence should see her through.
Predicted Winner: Alex Eala in straight sets (6–4, 6–3)
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