Filipina tennis star Alex Eala will face France’s Diane Parry in the round of 32 of the WTA 500 Ningbo Open on Monday as she looks to bounce back from a string of early exits on the hard court.

Eala, ranked world No. 20 as of Monday, Oct. 19, according to the Women’s Tennis Association website, is set to meet world No. 34 Parry at 7:30 p.m. Manila time.

The match comes after a difficult stretch for the 21-year-old Filipina, who has struggled to find her footing since returning to hard-court competition following the 2026 Asian Games, where she won a bronze medal.

Eala suffered an upset loss to Chinese qualifier Shi Han in the round of 64 at the Wuhan Open on Oct. 12. The 13th-seeded Eala, then ranked No. 19, fell to the world No. 217 Shi, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, at Dongfeng Voyah Center Court.

Her campaign in Wuhan also ended early in doubles. Eala and Turkish partner Zeynep Sonmez lost to Ukrainian pair Dayana Yastremska and Anhelina Kalinina, 6-2, 6-3, in the round of 32 on Oct. 13.

Despite the recent setbacks, Eala said she views her experiences on tour as opportunities to improve both as a player and as a person.

“It’s a learning process. You know, I’m thankfully experiencing so many new things. So as I experience them, of course, I learn and try to be a better player, try to be a better person,” Eala said during a news conference ahead of the Ningbo Open.

She also emphasized the importance of staying focused on her responsibilities, particularly during matches.

“When I’m able to focus on my work, especially on court … I’m able to compartmentalize and really, you know, prioritize what needs to be on the top,” she said.

Eala will look to translate that mindset into a stronger performance in Ningbo as she continues her campaign on the WTA Tour.