THERE’S always something reassuring about Alexandra Eala, or simply Alex, whenever she comes out to talk about her tennis journey.
Despite her early exit from Montreal, the 20-year-old Filipina sporting sensation doesn’t let pressure weigh on her shoulders even as the whole country watches her every step on the WTA Tour.
“There’s no pressure on me. I’m focusing on enjoying the experience and growing every week,” Alex shared in a recent interview shortly after taking a month-long leave following her European Tour exposure.
The weeks before that were crazy for Eala.
Her landmark breakout run at the Miami Open back in March would have easily ignited a renewed interest in her sport, especially after she cracked the top 100 of the WTA Rankings, which was her ticket to more big tournaments.
I remember that past glorious sporting achievements have sparked the Filipino’s interest in taking up sports.
Paeng Nepomuceno and Bong Coo, who is now a PSC Commissioner, have made bowling alleys burn hot when they were at their peaks and even beyond.
Akiko Thomson had been my contemporary in swimming. Along with many others, the swimming clubs were the places to be during those years.
Among our swimming contemporaries then was Rizza Maniego Eala, Alex’s mom. So, it’s in their very good sporting genes.
Also included in the past gainers were pelota, badminton, running that includes competitive marathon and triathlon, cycling, golf, and many other sports that have produced not a few competitive and national athletes.
Weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz’s Olympic victory in Rio de Janeiro and gymnast Carlos Yulo’s equivalent of that mint in 2024 in Paris are also big inspirations to our countrymen.
Now, it’s Eala’s turn to inspire us all. Eala has made a good showing in her Grand Slam appearances at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
There, she represented the Philippines at the center court.
Then she reached her first WTA Tour final in Eastbourne.
Montreal was not so kind to Eala, though.
But she gave former Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova a hard time stretching three sets before pain on her left shoulder stalled her in the third set.
It was a bummer as Eala had shown her better game with a 6-3 first set win before dropping the second at 1-6. Injured, she lost the third 2-6.
The latest WTA rankings, however, showed Eala climbing from No. 69 to 65. This was after she had reached a career-high of World No. 56 in June. Now that is not bad.
She’ll appear next in the Cincinnati Open where she could be playing against Canadian star Leylah Fernandez.
Leylah, ranked World No. 36, is another player with Filipino lineage. It will be exciting to see the two trading shots and smashes on opposite sides of the court.
