MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala crashed out in the Italian Open singles first round after getting dominated by Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine, 6-0, 6-1, on Thursday (Manila time) in Rome.

The 19-year-old Filipino’s debut in the WTA 1000 Internazionali BNL d’Italia ended up getting blanked by Kostyuk in the opening set.

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The World No. 27 Ukrainian brought her momentum with a 4-0 start in the second set before Eala, now ranked 70, finally scored one in the fifth game.

However, Kostyuk closed out the last two games to end the tennis rising star’s Italian Open campaign in the singles division.

Doubles with Coco Gauff

FILE–United States’ Coco Gauff serves against Iga Swiatek of Poland during the Madrid Open tennis tournament in Madrid, Spain, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

It was another early exit for Eala in clay, after falling short to Iga Swiatek in the Madrid Open’s round of 64 last April 24. She is preparing for her Grand Slam main draw debut in the Roland Garros starting on May 25.

The Rafa Nadal Academy product, though, will compete in the Italian Open doubles with world No. 3 Coco Gauff of the United States.

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Gauff was a 2023 US Open Champion and Italian Open titlist in the same year.

Eala and Gauff open their campaign on Friday against Fanny Stollar of Hungary and Alexandra Panova of Russia.