Alex Eala Heads to Ningbo Open Hoping to Bounce Back

Key Facts

The Ningbo Open (WTA 500) runs October 19 to 25 in China.

Eala, ranked world No. 19, starts in the first round of the 28-player draw.

Rybakina, Pegula, Svitolina and Swiatek are also in the field.

She lost a three-setter to qualifier Shi Han in Wuhan on October 12.

She won the WTA 500 title in Washington, D.C., in August.

New week, new chance.

After an early exit at the Wuhan Open, Alex Eala is heading to the WTA 500 Ningbo Open in China, which runs from October 19 to 25. The goal: get that winning form back.

Ningbo at a glance

Eala is world No. 19 and the 11th-highest-rated direct entrant in the 28-player draw
Only the top four seeds get first-round byes, so she starts in the opening round
She's playing singles only

The competition is stacked

Defending champ and top seed Elena Rybakina leads the field, with Jessica Pegula, Elina Svitolina and Iga Swiatek also in the mix. No easy draws here.

The rough patch

At the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open on October 12, Eala lost to Chinese qualifier Shi Han, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6. She also went out in the first round of doubles with Zeynep Sönmez. And earlier this month, she took bronze at the Asian Games in Nagoya.

Don't count her out

Remember August? She won the WTA 500 title in Washington, D.C. Ningbo is the perfect place to find that version of Alex again.

And zoom out for a second: the 21-year-old broke into the world's top 20 this year and brought home an Asian Games medal. She's still the country's top tennis player, and one tough week doesn't change that.

Laban, Alex!