After a strong hard-court swing, Alex Eala is now focusing on improving her performance on clay.
Eala reached a career-high No. 29 in the WTA rankings after a quarterfinal finish at the Dubai Tennis Championships and back-to-back Round of 16 appearances in both the BNP Paribas Open and the Miami Open.
However, she has since slipped back to No. 45.
Eala’s Clay Court Struggles
Last season, the clay surface proved challenging for Eala.
She bowed out in the round of 16 of the WTA 125 event in Oeiras and suffered early exits in the Madrid Open and Italian Open.
Eala’s Grand Slam debut at the French Open also ended in a first-round defeat.
Overall, she had a 2-4 win-loss record on clay in 2025.
Return to Rafa Nadal Academy
Eala has returned to training at the Rafa Nadal Academy in preparation for the clay-court swing.
Being molded under the philosophy of Rafael Nadal gives Eala both the technical base and the mental framework to eventually translate her game onto the surface.
Upcoming Clay Court Season
Eala’s 2026 clay campaign begins at the Linz Open.
She is set to play in more competitive tournaments namely the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, Mutua Madrid Open and Italian Open.
She also hopes for a breakthrough performance at Roland Garros.
- Linz Open
- Porsche Tennis Grand Prix
- Mutua Madrid Open
- Italian Open
This stretch will be about showing tangible growth in longer rallies, smarter shot selection, and a better feel for clay.
This part of the season will serve as a measuring stick for Eala, not just of where she is, but of how far she’s come.