Alex Eala kicks off Philippine Women’s Open bid vs Russian foe

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala was drawn against Russian Alina Charaeva in the Philippine Women’s Open round of 32 at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. Eala, seeded No. 2 in the country’s first-ever hosting of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 tournament, battles Charaeva, who once defeated her six years ago. READ: Djokovic calls crowd surge