FILE– Philippines’ Alex Eala poses along with her bronze medal in the course of the 2022 Asian Games medal ceremony. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
MANILA, Philippines — After one other stellar yr, Alex Eala hopes to affix all Grand Slam tournaments in 2024 but she stays focused on her short-term goal which is seeing motion anew within the Australian Open in January.
“I’m trying to have a look at short-term eh so ngayon, I’m preparing for Australian Open 2024. I’ll be joining the qualifying, that’s on January 8,” said Eala, who spent the Holidays in Manila.
“That’s my big focus at once. And hopefully next yr, my goal is to affix all 4 Grand Slams,” she added.
Eala, the primary Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles title within the US Open girls, suffered an early exit within the Australian Open qualifying rounds earlier this yr, losing to Japan’s Misaki Doi, absorbing a 6-4, 6-7 (1-7), 3-6, in the primary round to fail to succeed in the principal draw.
The 18-year-old Filipino admitted that she struggled to begin the yr before finding her groove midway through 2023, winning back-to-back International Tennis Federation (ITF) titles in W25 Yecla last June and earning her fourth pro crown in W25 Roehampton followed by a runner-up finish in W25 Aldershot.
Eala ended her season with one other runner-up finish within the W40 Petange.
“I believe that the yr had plenty of ups and downs, especially in the primary half. It was a bit hard for me. I believe I had some tough moments during that point, but I’m comfortable about how I used to be in a position to turn it around within the second half,” she said.
“I believe I actually blossomed and grew during that second half and I used to be in a position to bring out a few of my best results and best tennis.”
For the Rafael Nadal Academy graduate, the highlight of her 2023 was the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Memorable Asian Games stint
Alex Eala and Francis Casey Alcantara bring the Philippines to the mixed doubles podium. –JUNE NAVARRO/INQUIRER SPORTS
Eala earned a bronze medal in the ladies’s singles tournament and got one other within the mixed doubles with partner Francis Alcantara.
“I even have to say Asian Games talaga ‘yung standout. Iba kasi siya sa ibang tournaments na often kong sinasalihan na ‘yun nga, it’s a team (event),” said Eala, who ended the yr as rank No. 190 within the Women’s Tennis Association. “After all, I at all times represent the country in my international tournaments but it surely’s different to have the opportunity to wear it and to have the opportunity to be in an environment with all these athletes.”
“It was my first Asian Games so I had latest experiences not only on the court but in addition off the court. I used to be in a position to connect with other Filipino athletes and listen to their stories and in addition take notes about what they do, their routines. So I believe that whole week, basically, helped so much in my progression as an athlete,” she added.
Eala’s coach Daniel Gomez was pleased with the progress of his player after “playing at the very best level” to finish the yr.
Gomez seeks to proceed to construct on Eala as a “very instinctive player” and her consistency and aggressiveness to attain their goal next yr.
“We now have to essentially deal with staying in the current, in the following point. She got very mature this yr. It was the primary yr she played a full yr within the skilled (level). I believe it helped so much along with her mentality to focus step-by-step and keep patient and that’s what I believe is gonna be a long-term process,” the coach said.
As she continues to grow as a professional tennis player, Eala’s Christmas wish is for Philippine tennis to maintain reaching greater heights, hoping for more support for other Filipino netters.
“Hopefully, my Christmas wish for tennis specifically is that an increasing number of people will get into the game and an increasing number of people will follow the opposite tennis players,” said Eala, who was a part of the Premier Volleyball League (PVL) historic crowd in the course of the Game 2 of the All-Filipino finals between Creamline and Choco Mucho.
“I believe that the spirit of the game of tennis might be reignited. I believe that an increasing number of people will begin to get into the game. Actually, plenty of people got here to me these past few weeks telling me that they began tennis or their kids have began tennis due to me.”
“Those are comments that I actually appreciate and really warm my heart since you’re not eager about that whenever you’re on-court, but it surely’s nice to see that folks also appreciate and there’s an impact that you just give to the group,” she added.
