Alex Eala and Venus Williams. AFP photos
MANILA -- Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is looking forward to teaming up with a legend of the sport at Bad Homburg, where she has been confirmed to be playing with Venus Williams in doubles.
"I am really, really excited," Eala said of partnering with the former world No. 1 and seven-time Grand Slam champion.
"Venus is such a trailblazer and continues to do so much and has done so much for the sport," she added. "I like to say that women's tennis has been a trailblazer for women's sports and she is a big part of why that is."
READ: Alex Eala to team up with Venus Williams in Bad Homburg Open
The 45-year-old Williams is a former world No. 1 in doubles as well, having won 22 doubles titles in her career.
Eala, for her part, says she "enjoys" playing doubles, though her most recent foray in the competition ended in a first-round exit along with Nikola Bartunkova in the Birmingham Open.
"Of course, with Nikola, who's such a nice person and a great player. We had a very tight match yesterday and I really do wish that we could have gone a bit further," she said.
"And yeah, I'm happy. I'm happy with our performance."
In the meantime, Eala is focusing on the singles draw of the Birmingham Open, where she has reached the second round after a comprehensive 6-0, 6-2 win over Priscilla Hon on Tuesday.
Eala, the No. 1 seed in the tournament, will play the winner of the match between Germany's Greet Minnen and Russia's Alina Charaeva.