Li Na fell in love with Alexandra Eala's attitude and personality during the MGM Macau Tennis Masters as the Chinese tennis legend is tipping the Filipina to do well at the Australian Open.
This past weekend, Macau hosted a mixed team exhibition tournament.
Li, a former two-time Grand Slam champion and a former world No. 2, was selected as the captain of team consisting of Eala, Juncheng Shang and Ugo Humbert.
In her Macau exhibition debut, Eala appeared in two matches. In a mixed doubles match, the 20-year-old teamed up with Shang and they were beaten 5-7 6-7 (1) by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Wu Yibing. In case you missed it, Davidovich Fokina was slated to play alongside Mirra Andreeva - but after the Russian fell ill and was unable to play - the organizers improvized and that's how the Filipina ended up playing a match involving three men.
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The following day, Andreeva felt better and managed to play against Eala in a singles match. And although the 53rd-ranked Filipina picked up a 4-6 2-6 loss to Andreeva, captain Li was thrilled from what she saw from the Eastbourne runner-up.
When Li won the 2011 Australian Open title, she became the first-ever Asian Grand Slam singles winner in singles.
Li: Eala can do much better at the Australian Open in 2026
"I remember first time I played third round against Maria [Sharapova] in the Laver Arena. I was so nervous I didnt know if I could walk on the court. I really love her personality and shes played well and [she is] also so young, but shes got a lot of experience. So I believe she can do it much, much better [at the Australian Open]," Li said about the 20-year-old Filipina after the MGM Macau Tennis Masters concluded.
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When the 2026 Australian Open kicks off, Eala will make her main draw debut at the tournament. In the last three years, the 20-year-old Filipina tried to make the Australian Open main draw through the qualifying event, but each time lost in the qualies first round.
