Zeynep Sonmez and Alex Eala are good friends on the WTA Tour.
The 23-year-old Turk and 20-year-old Filipina are often seen laughing together around the grounds of WTA events.
But how well do they get on behind the scenes?
Appearing as a guest on the ‘Love All‘ podcast, Sonmez spoke openly about her friendship with Eala.
Zeynep Sonmez says she is ‘very close’ with Alex Eala
Sonmez is friends with several players in women’s tennis, including Eala.
“Girlhood forever, we’re in this together, we see each other more than we see our families, basically, so why not be friends?” she said.
“And with Alex [Eala], we’re very close; it’s not like we’re just friends in tennis, we’re friends outside of tennis.
“We talk a lot, we try to spend some time together, which is not very easy.
“We met, I’d say, in 2021, around then, and since then, we’re very good friends.”
Sonmez explained how she and Eala approached their recent encounter at the Abu Dhabi Open.
- 2026 Abu Dhabi Open 1R – Alex Eala defeated Zeynep Sonmez, 6-4, 6-3
“In Abu Dhabi, I played against Alex, and the day before the match, we went to dinner together, and we talked about life for three or four hours,” she said.
“We played each other the next day, and after the match, everything was fine too, because it’s just a match.
“Of course, she wants to win, I want to win, we both know this, but at the end of the day, we’re friends.
“For me, it’s not a problem to play against each other and be friends at the same time.”
Zeynep Sonmez explains why Alex Eala is so difficult to play against
The Turk went on to talk about Eala’s game, explaining why she is such a tricky opponent.
“First of all, she plays very close to the line, she’s playing very aggressive,” said Sonmez.
“She’s a lefty, so it’s difficult for a lot of players.
“She can open up, she can use the angles, but at the same time, she can hit the ball very flat, heavy, fast. You always feel like you don’t have so much time against her; you feel like you have to create something before she does, and sometimes you rush because of that.
Zeynep Sonmez and Alex Eala’s head-to-head record
| Match | Winner | Loser | Score |
| 2026 Abu Dhabi Open – 1R | Alex Eala | Zeynep Sonmez | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2025 Eastbourne – Q1 | Alex Eala | Zeynep Sonmez | 6-1, 6-3 |
| 2023 Nantes (ITF) – 2R | Alex Eala | Zeynep Sonmez | 7-6, 6-4 |
“When I was playing against her, I was thinking she’s hitting the ball very fast, and she’s taking the ball very early. So I felt like I had no time, so I was trying to go to middle-deep more, to neutralise because then she doesn’t have the angle.
“To play against her, it’s difficult because she’s playing very close to the line and very aggressive, and whenever she has the chance, she can create an angle. So she’s not someone who is just playing down the line or flat deep balls; she can also use the angles, so you have to cover all the court, basically.
“And, you have to do it very fast, and the balls are very low, too.
“So you have to be down and low, you need to be ready for those hard shots.”
Sonmez was then asked whether she practises with Eala.
“We do practise, not a lot, but we do practise together,” she said.
“I like to practise together, because to rally with her, you get a good rhythm when you’re hitting together. And it’s fun!”
Eala and Sonmez’s friendship is strong, and long may that continue!
But how do they compare on the WTA Tour?
Alex Eala’s career achievements
- WTA titles – 0
- Career-high ranking – 31st
- Best Grand Slam result – 2R (2025 US Open)
- Top-10 wins – 4 (Madison Keys, Iga Swiatek, Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff)
Zeynep Sonmez’s career achievements
- WTA titles – 1 (2024 Merida Open)
- Career-high ranking – 69th
- Best Grand Slam result – 3R (2026 Australian Open, 2025 Wimbledon)
- Top-10 wins – 0
Eala has a better career-high ranking and has more top-10 wins, but Sonmez has a WTA title to her name and has enjoyed more success at the Grand Slam level.
But at 20 and 23, both players are only at the beginning of their tennis journeys.
Only time will tell what they can achieve during their careers.
Eala and Sonmez are both expected to return at the Miami Open, which begins next week.