The Split Between Alex Eala and Venus Williams
Alex Eala, the rising star from the Philippines currently ranked No. 28 in the world, has decided not to team up with tennis legend Venus Williams for this week’s Washington DC Open.
Eala and Williams previously played together on grass at the Bad Homburg Open where they reached the quarter-finals but were defeated by Olivia Nicholls and Tereza Mihalikova. This time around, Eala will focus solely on singles, citing physical demands as a key factor in her decision.
“We didn’t make it this time. Would love for there to be future chances.” said Williams after the decision was announced over the weekend.Eala’s first-round match against former world No. 4 Zheng Qinwen is tough but possible redemption. Meanwhile, Venus Williams will team up with Diana Shnaider in the doubles event.
Rising Star Focuses on Singles
After reaching the last-16 at Wimbledon and defeating defending champion Iga Swiatek, Eala sees this as an opportunity to break into the top 20 rankings during the North American hard-court swing. She highlighted her appreciation for Williams: ‘I have so much respect for Venus.I am so grateful for every opportunity that I have to be around her, to learn from her, to hit with her’, she said at her press conference.
Williams’ New Partner
Venus Williams will team up with Diana Shnaider in Washington DC. Williams stated: ‘It didn’t work out this time’ but added that they hope for future opportunities together.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Alex Eala choose to play singles instead of doubles?
Eala stated, 'I don't have the capacity yet to give my all in both singles and doubles. I think Venus deserves a partner who can give their all physically, emotionally, mentally when they're on court with her.'
Who will Venus Williams play with in doubles?
Venus Williams announced that she will play with Diana Shnaider at the WTA 500 Washington DC Open.
How does Eala envision her future with Venus Williams?
Eala expressed, 'I hope to play with Venus again in the near future. I think this is my first week coming back and it's important for me to focus on singles.'