By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense tennis ace Alexandra Eala is set to take another major step in her career as she opens her campaign in the Australian Open main draw against American Alycia Parks in Melbourne.

Ranked No. 49 in the world, Eala will be making her first appearance in the main draw of the season’s opening Grand Slam.

She is set to face Parks, currently ranked No. 100, in a first-round matchup that will mark the pair’s initial meeting on the WTA Tour.

Parks, 25 years old, brings significant experience into the contest.

The Atlanta native reached a career-high singles ranking of World’s No. 40 in August 2023 and captured her lone WTA singles title at the 2023 Lyon Open, where she defeated France’s Caroline Garcia in the finals.

She has also enjoyed success on the doubles circuit, claiming two WTA titles, including the 2023 Cincinnati Open alongside Coco Gauff.

Known for her power game, Parks is regarded as one of the tour’s biggest servers.

She shares the record for the fastest serve in US Open history at 129 miles per hour, a mark she set during her Grand Slam debut in 2021, matching the long-standing record established by Venus Williams.

Should Eala advance past the opening round, she is slated to meet the winner of the match between World’s No. 19 Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic and Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian, ranked No. 37.

The opening-round clash underscores Eala’s continued rise on the global stage as she tests herself against an opponent known for strength and experience, setting the tone for her long-awaited Australian Open main-draw debut./ASC, WDJ