Expect Alex Eala to show something much better in her next outings in the Women’s Tennis Association tournaments.
The 19-year-old Eala said this following her great showing in the recent Miami Open, where she got praise from tennis greats like Matt Wilander and Rafa Nadal.
“I think I have been improving for a while. In everything, a little of my serve, a little of my fitness, the quality of my shots, how I build a point. And I think it took me a while to mesh things together, and make it come out during the matches,” said Eala.
Alex, who is back home in the Philippines, discussed her recent experiences and reflections with her uncle Noli Eala during his weekend program, “Power and Play.”
Eala is now preparing for the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal from April 14 to 20 and in the Mutua Madrid Open in Spain from April 22 May 4.
Expected to climb to a new high of no. 72 in the official WTA rankings this week, Eala had a memorable run in the Miami Open, where she defeated several Top 10 players.
The likes of Australian Open champion Madison Keys of the United States and four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek of Poland were among her victims.
Then, Eala fell out of contention after she suffered a 6-7, 7-5, 3-6 loss to world No. 4 Jessica Pegula.
“But as you can see, when I play well, the level is really there. I feel that this week (in the Miami Open) is really gonna help, with the trust that I had in myself, and the trust that I have in my game,” added Eala.
After her stint in Portugal and Madrid, Eala is setting her sights at the French Open, where she is expected to be given direct entry.
With Eala’s new ranking, she will be granted direct entry to major tournaments, including the French Open, the second Grand Slam of the year, from 25 May to 8 June at the famed Roland Garros Stadium in Paris.
Eala also shared her thoughts after Mats Wilander, a seven-time men’s Grand Slam champion and former world no. 1 netter, compared her to tennis greats such as John McEnroe and Marcelo Rios.
“With Alexandra Eala, we’re talking about someone who has hands given by God,” wrote Wilander on social media, adding
Eala “understands the game as good as any player on tour.”
“She reminds me of Marcelo Rios, where the talent is just boiling out of the fingers and boiling out of her hand, and she can do anything. And then the reason I say Marcelo Rios is, of course, she’s left-handed,” said Wilander.
Eala said she felt flattered at Wilander’s comparisons.
“Those are very flattering words, (I’m) super flattered to be even mentioned in the same breath as all of these legends. Iga (Swiatek) and and Aryna (Sabalenka) are dominating the tour right now so just to be compared to them is a really good sign for me and I think it reflects on the potential that I have for sure,” said Eala.
The Filipina tennis superstar also said she got a surprise from many-time champion Rafa Nadal, who messaged her after the Miami Open to compliment and congratulate her.
“Rafa messaged me. It was the first time that he messaged me personally. I think that was a shock to me. I saw it four days after. It was exciting to see his notifications,” said Eala.