By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Alex Eala will begin her 2026 Wimbledon campaign against Mexico’s Renata Zarazua after the pair were drawn together in the opening round of the year’s third Grand Slam.

World’s No. 76 Zarazua heads into Wimbledon looking to improve on her previous appearances at the All England Club.

The 28-year-old exited in the first round in 2024 after losing to former US Open champion Emma Raducanu before reaching the second round in 2025, where she was eliminated by Amanda Anisimova.

Meanwhile, Eala is set for her second straight main-draw appearance at Wimbledon.

The Filipina made her debut in the tournament last year but bowed out in the opening round against eventual champion Barbora Krejcikova in three sets.

The upcoming match also renews a rivalry that began on the ITF circuit in 2024, when Zarazua rallied from a set down to defeat Eala, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Despite facing each other as opponents, the two have also shared the same side of the net.

They partnered in the women’s doubles event at last year’s French Open and advanced to the second round.

Eala enters Wimbledon after a productive grass-court swing that included winning the WTA 125 Birmingham Open title and reaching the semifinals of the Berlin Tennis Open, highlighted by a quarterfinal victory over World’s No. 8 Elina Svitolina.

She also reached the Round of 16 at the HSBC Championships before making an early exit at the Bad Homburg Open./ASC, WDJ