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What Coco Gauff said to Eva Lys about Alex Eala after their Stuttgart training session
TL;DR
Alexandra Eala is starting her clay-court season at the WTA 250 tournament in Stuttgart, which features a competitive lineup. She secured her place in the main draw with a late entry.
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
Alexandra Eala is set to kick off her clay-court season in Stuttgart tomorrow, marking the start of her campaign on this surface.
Despite being a WTA 250 event, this tournament boasts a remarkably strong field, making it one of the more stacked competitions on the calendar.
The tournament has drawn significant interest, and Eala managed to secure a spot in the main draw thanks to a late entry.
With so many top players around Stuttgart this week, she had plenty of practice partners to choose from ahead of her first match.
Ultimately, she linked up with Eva Lys and Coco Gauff. And after their session, Gauff was heard talking about Eala.
Alex Eala draws positive reactions from Gauff and Lys following Stuttgart training
Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images
While the session was as competitive as you’d expect at this level, there was a good energy among the players once they wrapped up.
Eala and Gauff shared a laugh, while Eala gave Lys a quick hug before they headed off in different directions.
Gauff followed up with a question for Lys: “Have you ever trained with her? She’s tough, I do it practically at every tournament.”
This was likely referencing the fact that Gauff has already faced Eala twice this year, with each winning one match.
Eala also trained with Iga Swiatek just last week, adding to an already impressive list of practice partners early in the season.
Stuttgart Open draw throws up early challenge for Alex Eala
Eala’s Stuttgart Open journey kicks off tomorrow, thanks to a late entry following Qinwen Zheng’s withdrawal.
Since she didn’t play in the tournament last year, there are no ranking points to defend, leaving her free to swing without added pressure.
And given how tough her section looks, that might be a blessing. Eala faces a difficult path just to get out of the early rounds.
Her opener comes against Leylah Fernandez, who won their only previous meeting last season in Doha.
If she comes through that, next up would be Jasmine Paolini, another player who has reached multiple major finals.
The quarter-final could pit her against Elena Rybakina, while Iga Swiatek—now working under new guidance—may stand between Eala and the final.
Should she somehow navigate through all those obstacles, Coco Gauff is the likely opponent waiting at the end of the draw.
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Q&A
What is the significance of Alexandra Eala's participation in the Stuttgart tournament?
Alexandra Eala's participation is significant as it marks the beginning of her clay-court season in a highly competitive WTA 250 event.
How did Alexandra Eala secure her spot in the Stuttgart main draw?
Alexandra Eala secured her spot in the Stuttgart main draw by entering the tournament late.
What can be expected from the competition at the Stuttgart tournament?
The Stuttgart tournament is expected to be highly competitive due to its strong field, despite being a WTA 250 event.
