Overview
- Eala, a late main-draw entrant after Qinwen Zheng withdrew, lost 6-1, 6-4 to Leylah Fernandez on Tuesday in the Stuttgart first round.
- The exit brought $13,211 in prize money and one WTA ranking point, placing her around No. 44 in the live standings.
- Fernandez closed the match after Eala saved two match points, and said her coach warned her at 0-30, 5-4 that Eala would not go down easily.
- In her preparation, Eala practiced with Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek in Stuttgart, with Gauff calling her a tough training partner.
- She is scheduled for the Mutua Madrid Open, a WTA 1000 event where she defends few clay points, giving her a chance to climb if she strings together wins.