The quality of Alex Eala's game has changed since she since started playing in international meets three years ago.
The contrast can be seen in how the 15-year-old Eala fought her way into the 2020 French Open's Roland Garros Junior Tennis Championships girls singles semifinals.
“There's a big difference, fitness-wise. And it comforts that in a span of three years, I was able to keep going,” said Eala.
The young Eala talked about the improvements in her game during a webcast of the weekly show, “Power and Play,” of her uncle Noli Eala.
A few hours earlier, the fourth-seeded Eala bowed to third-seeded and hometown favorite Elsa Jacquemot of France, 3-6, 2-6, in a 64-minute contest.
Jacquemot went on to reach the finals against giant-killing Russian Alina Charaeva, who ousted fellow Russian, no. 4 Polina Kudermetova, 6-7(5-7), 6-2, 7-5).
Despite her loss, Eala has already set a milestone since she has never gotten this far in a Grand Slam tournament.
It has been a long way for her since Eala made her first finals' appearance in a junior netfest in Indonesia, but lost the crown to Priska Nugroho, 2-6, 6-4, 1-6.
With organizers practicing social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic, there were no spectators around when Eala faced Jacquemot.
“I do miss the fans. I do love to have to have the fans to watch me play. But not every tournament that I will play will be as grand as the Roland Garros event,” said Eala.
During the encounter, the 18-year-old Jacquemot scored 16 points on 26 first serves and knocked in three aces as well.
But Eala showed her intensity in that game and held on until the fourth game of the final set, 2-all.
And then, things turned around when one of Jacquemot's aces found its mark in the fifth game. That was when the French netter began stepping up as she hit long forehand drives to Eala's left.
Jacquemot's service winner and volley from the net allowed her grab a 3-2 edge.
In the fifth game, Jacquemot pounced on Eala's second serves to race to a 40-0 lead, a game break for a decisive 4-2 spread.