After exiting the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal, Filipina sensation Alex Eala is set to climb the World Tennis Association rankings again next week as she hopes do better in the short clay season.
From world no. 72 this week, the 19-year-old Eala will rise a notch to no. 71, a few days before her next tournament, the Mutua Madrid Open, which begins with its main draw on Tuesday.
“Madrid, I always like going back there. And in Rome, it will be my first time,” said Eala after wrapping up her campaign in Portugal, picking up 15 WTA points and 2835 euros (P182,533).
Eala, who earned a total of $372,640 since the beginning of her professional tournaments this year, said this in a post-game interview at the conclusion of her games in Portugal.
After the Madrid tourney, Eala will set foot in Rome for the first time for the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Italy, which will be from May 6 to 18.
“So much to look forward to. I think my goals over the clay season after the Miami Open is get better than last year,” added Eala.
The event, which is celebrating its 82nd edition this year, will have world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the mix again, just like in the Miami Open, where Eala finished fourth.
A rematch of last year’s final is expected in Madrid, after Swiatek defeated Sabalenka in straight sets to capture the 2024 Rome title.
“(My goal is) to improve in the short period of time (of the clay season). And just to see myself do better,” added Eala.
Last year, Eala reached the round of 16 and fell in a 3-6, 7-6 (4), 4-6 loss to Sorana Cristea of Romania in the Madrid netfest.
In the Oeiras meet, Eala won her rain-delayed encounter with Dutch netter Anouk Koevermans, 6-3, 6-4, in the first round, but lost to Hungarian netter Panna Udvardy, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, in the second round.
“I grew up on hard court. Games (on hard court) come natural to me,” said Eala on transitioning to clay.
With her career-high rankings, Eala continues to become Southeast Asia’s top netter, with Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew behind her at no. 188.
“My game is fitted for it (hard court). And I can’t say the same for clay,” added Eala, whose recent victim in the Miami Open’s hard court, included Jelena Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open titlist, Australian Open champion Madison Keys of the United States and four-time French Open champion Iga Swiatek of Poland.
So far, there is another teen outside of Eala to have debuted in the top 100 — Australia’s Maya Joint, who at 18, reached the Top 100 on March 3 after playing in her first WTA 500 quarterfinals in Merida.