SET 1 UPDATE: Eala wins 1st set 6-3 vs Pavlyuchenkova at 2026 Madrid Open

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SET 1 UPDATE: Eala wins 1st set 6-3 vs Pavlyuchenkova at 2026 Madrid Open image

By Joel Reyes

Alex Eala got off to a solid start in her 2026 Madrid Open campaign, winning the opening set 6-3 in her first-round clash with Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Wednesday at Arantxa Sanchez Stadium.

The Filipina tennis star grabbed the first break of the match in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Pavlyuchenkova, who committed a series of unforced errors in that game as she was broken to love, then asked for a medical timeout due to a hip problem.

Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images

Eala didn't skip a beat when play resumed, holding her next service game to grab a 4-2 advantage. Pavlyuchenkova, whose right thigh was heavily bandaged following the timeout, cut the deficit to 3-4 after holding her serve.

Eala found herself in trouble in her next service game, trailing 15-40. The Quezon City native didn't panic, though, saving those two break points to build a 5-3 lead.

Eala followed that up by breaking Pavlyuchenkova's serve in the ninth game to take the first set in 54 minutes.

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