No. 13 seed Alex Eala will open her Wuhan Open campaign against a qualifier, according to the draw released Saturday for the WTA 1000 hardcourt event, Inquirer reports.
Eala, the world No. 18, did not get a first-round bye. Only the top eight seeds earned one.
If she advances, the 21-year-old meets either Russia's Ekaterina Alexandrova or Canada's Leylah Fernandez in the round of 32. The two face each other first. Fernandez won her first title of the season in Singapore, while Alexandrova reached the China Open quarterfinals before losing to Mirra Andreeva.
In doubles, Eala reunites with close friend Zeynep Sönmez of Türkiye. They open against Ukrainians Anhelina Kalinina and Dayana Yastremska in the round of 32.
Wuhan marks Eala's return to the WTA Tour after her bronze medal at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. She skipped the mandatory China Open, which coincided with the Games. Her last tour event was the Singapore Open, where she lost to unseeded Russian Tatiana Prozorova in the round of 16.
Aryna Sabalenka is the top seed. World No. 1 Elena Rybakina is out with a foot injury.
The main draw begins Monday, Oct. 12. Wuhan shares Philippine time, so match times read the same for fans at home.
Follow Rally's Alex Eala hub for verified results and schedule updates.
