LIKE in every city she has played in, Alexandra “Alex” Eala is looking forward to another massive Filipino backing in Ohio for an added fuel to her final drive before the US Open later this month.
Ms. Eala is back in the United States after a Round of 16 finish in Toronto as she vies in the ongoing WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open in Mason, Ohio, where a legion of her compatriots is expected to rally behind her once more.
Back and forth she goes in North America in a bid to fine-tune her bearings for the season’s final Grand Slam on Aug. 30 to Sept. 13 in Flushing Meadows, New York, Ms. Eala is just grateful for the support that keeps her going in spite of the toll from a packed schedule.
“It’s an amazing experience. It’s nice to see that the Filipino community is really showing up and enjoying tennis. Hopefully, it will help grow the sport as well and, in the end, give them something new and joyful experience,” said Ms. Eala, who’s still waiting for her Round 2 opponent.
“Maraming salamat sa mga kababayan natin sa lahat ng ginawa nyo mula sa Washington hanggang Toronto, at sa lahat ng gagawin nyo pa. Parati kayong sumusuporta at nagdarasal, parati kayong nagpupuyat kaya tuloy-tuloy lang akong magta-trabaho (para sa inyo).”
Ms. Eala earlier this month captured her first WTA Tour title in the WTA 500 Mubadala DC Open in Washington D.C. before reaching the fourth round of the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada.
Now dubbed as one of the crowd darlings in the tennis world, the 21-year-old Filipina pride enjoyed a rockstar treatment with sellout crowd and packed stadiums in both cities.
“It’s an honor to represent my country and I’m super grateful for all the love and recognition I’m getting,” beamed Ms. Eala, who also enjoys a career-best ranking at WTA No. 20 with a golden opportunity to jump higher.
And the same is expected in Cincinnati, especially with Ms. Eala earning her best seeding in any WTA 1000 event ever at No. 17 for a first-round bye. She will face either WTA No. 77 Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania or No. 68 Magda Linette of Poland in Round 2 on Friday or Saturday at a still-to-be-determined schedule.
Ms. Eala is green and go against anyone, squashing doubts on her minor ankle injury and fatigue after playing eight straight matches in the past week. She had seven straight wins in that stretch for the longest streak of her career and the longest active in the WTA Tour at the time.
“I think I’ve really played well in the past weeks and I think I’m healthy which is something I’m super grateful for. It’s something that’s obviously on the top of my priority all the time,” Ms. Eala vowed.
“I’m counting my blessings and I’m taking the lessons that I’ve had from these two weeks and hopefully implementing them even more in a better way in Cincinnati and New York.”
Meanwhile, world No. 2 Elena Rybakina and No. 8 Iga Swiatek of Poland — two titans that Ms. Eala had beaten in separate occasions these past two months — arranged a title showdown in Toronto.
Ms. Rybakina hacked out a 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 win over world No. 4 Coco Gauff of the United States while Ms. Swiatek repelled the comeback of No. 9 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.
The quartet will also be slugging it out in Cincinnati’s stacked field led by No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka before they all rumble in the US Open. — John Bryan Ulanday
