Alex Eala, the Philippine tennis star, will shift her focus to singles competition at the Washington Open after her planned doubles pairing with Venus Williams did not materialize.The duo, who had been announced as partners for the WTA 500 tournament, faced a setback as the draw revealed they would not compete together.Eala will now face Chinese player Zheng Qinwen in the round of 32, marking their first meeting on the WTA Tour.The two had previously clashed in the 2022 Asian Games semifinals, with Zheng emerging victorious.Despite this history, Eala, currently ranked No.29, aims to build on her recent success, including a historic run to the fourth round of Wimbledon.Her performance at the Washington Open will be crucial as she transitions from grass-court to hard-court events.The decision to drop the doubles partnership highlights the challenges athletes face in balancing team dynamics with individual goals.