Filipina tennis star Alex Eala, who won’t be part of the national women’s team to the 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, fell in the latest rankings of the Women’s Tennis Association.
The 17-year-old Eala, who is currently competing in Switzerland, has gone down from no. 217 to no. 255 this week.
The drop came after she lost to Romanian netter and world no. 37 Irina Camella Begu, 2-6, 5-7, last month in the Miami Open.
Eala is now in Switzerland, competing in the International Tennis Federation World Tour in Chiasso.
In the first round of the W60 tournament, Eala is set to clash with another Romanian bet in Alexandra Ignatik, whose rankings have also gone down from no. 217 to no. 222 this week.
National team head coach Chris Cuarto on Tuesday confirmed that Eala won’t be playing in the biennial meet in Cambodia.
Eala is preparing for the qualifying matches of the 2023 French Open, starting on May 28 at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris.
“Alex is not playing. I am still confirming the others who will play, as we make adjustments in the roster,” said Cuarto, adding that final selection for the national squad will be confirmed this week.
In the last SEA Games, Eala was part of the national women’s team with Marian Jade Capadocia, Khim Iglupa and Jenaila Prulla.
The men’s was composed of Treat Huey, Ruben Gonzales, Nino Alcantara, Jeson Patrombon and Jed Olivarez.
The national tennis team is currently playing under the banner of the Philippine Olympic Committee, with the POC tennis stabilization body under Ramon “Tats” Suzara, who is supervising its formation with Cuarto.
A stabilization body has been working in close coordination with officials of the Philippine Tennis Association since last year, following the suspension of the PHILTA of its membership from the International Tennis Federation due to ongoing leadership conflicts.
Eala said she is currently managing the number of competitions she is joining as the Women’s Tennis Association has allocated her 20 professional tournaments to join before she turns 18 on May 23.
Eala said during her recent Manila visit that she will run into scheduling conflicts if she suits up for the national team in the SEA Games.