Alexandra Eala received a special gift from her French Open first-round opponent as she celebrated her 21st birthday on the eve of the Grand Slam. Iva Jovic, Eva Lys, and Zeynep Sönmez surprised the world No. 38 on the court on Saturday as she prepared for the start of her French Open campaign.
Alexandra Eala Receives Birthday Surprise From French Open Opponent
Regarded as one of the most talented young players in women’s tennis, Eala took the WTA Tour by storm last year. She defeated Iga Świątek and Madison Keys en route to the Miami Open semifinals to announce her arrival, and has continued to showcase her potential with wins over Coco Gauff and Jasmine Paolini this year.
Eala is currently preparing for her second French Open campaign, hoping to improve on last year’s first-round exit.
The Filipino tennis star was preparing at Roland Garros on Saturday when fellow players Jovic, Lys, and Sönmez surprised her by bringing her a cake onto the court to celebrate her birthday. Eala was surprised by this wholesome gesture and later blew out the candles on the cake on her 21st birthday.
Pictures of the moment were shared by fans on social media.
Lys, Sonmez, and Jovic surprised Eala for her birthday 🎂 pic.twitter.com/zmpvlsHmW4
— Owen (@kostekcanu) May 23, 2026
Eala will take on Jovic in the first round of the French Open in a blockbuster match between two of the most exciting young players in women’s tennis. Both players have made their mark on the WTA Tour over the last 12 months and will be eager to showcase their talent on the big stage.
Jovic, who made the second round at the French Open last year, is enjoying a breakout season on the WTA Tour. The 18-year-old made the quarterfinals at the Australian Open this year and will now have her sights set on a strong showing in Paris.
Eala has had a bumpy start to the clay-court swing but holds an impressive 18-12 win-loss record for the year heading into the French Open. She reached the third round in Rome, the fourth round in Miami, and the quarterfinals in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Manila earlier this year.
The two players are also good friends and have competed together in doubles matches at two tournaments this year. This will be their first meeting on the WTA Tour, and we could be in for a fascinating clash between two players who could well shape the next era of women’s tennis.
