By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Alex Eala and Victoria Mboko will begin their women’s doubles campaign at the 2026 French Open against the pair of Leylah Fernandez and Diana Shnaider this week.

The partnership between Eala and Mboko was confirmed after the release of the tournament’s official entry list, with the Filipina rising star teaming up with one of the WTA Tour’s fastest-rising young players.

Mboko, 19 years old, currently holds the World’s No. 9 ranking in singles after a rapid climb this season, while the 21-year-old Eala is ranked No. 38.

In doubles, however, Eala has the higher ranking at No. 88 compared to Mboko’s No. 133.

The two players are no strangers to each other, having previously met twice in competition.

Mboko rallied past Eala in three sets during the Round of 16 of the Hong Kong Open last year.

Eala, meanwhile, defeated the Canadian in the semifinals of the 2022 US Open girls’ singles tournament before eventually capturing the junior Grand Slam title — the first ever by a Filipina.

Eala recently competed in doubles at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia with American Hailey Baptiste, but the pair bowed out in the opening round.

She had a stronger run in singles play in Rome, reaching the third round before falling to World’s No. 2 Elena Rybakina.

The Filipina standout will also see action in the women’s singles draw at Roland Garros, where she is set to face Iva Jovic in the first round.

Eala is aiming to surpass her previous French Open doubles performance after reaching the second round last year alongside Mexican partner Renata Zarazúa./ASC, WDJ