From the Philippines to Manacor; Alex Eala shines brightly.

22.10.2019

It's not often we see players of Filipino origin shine in the tennis world, and although it's too early for grand celebrations, Alexandra Eala's career is looking up.

It’s not often that we see players of Filipino origin shine in the tennis world, and although it’s too early for big celebrations, Alexandra Eala ‘s career is looking promising. At least, that’s what the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar player is achieving this season, at just 14 years old.

Without going any further, she has been the protagonist of an unprecedented record for the Philippines. Without representation in the women’s team in a U-14 World Cup since 1993, last August in Prostejov (Czech Republic) , they finished fifth, losing only two heats against the two teams that would go on to play in the final for the title: the United States and the Czech Republic.

After the collective success, Eala carefully prepared for her participation in the US Open juniors , where she was able to display a high level of tennis, winning both of her qualifying matches and reaching the main draw of a Grand Slam of this category for the first time. In Flushing Meadows , she was also able to win a main draw duel against Australian Annerly Poulos 6-1, 6-2, although Thailand’s Mai Napatt Nirundorn put an end to her adventure in New York . However, in the doubles draw, she was also able to score another win alongside Elina Kalieva , also a player from the Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar.

Her strong performance on the American hard court provided a huge confidence boost for the Filipino gem. From the Big Apple, she traveled with Rafa Nadal Academy coach Daniel Gómez to Stellenbosch, South Africa, to face an ITF Junior Grade 2 tournament . She came within a whisker of the singles final and on the verge of winning the doubles after falling in the final round, once again teaming up with Kalieva.

But her big moment was in store a week later in Cape Town, South Africa . This time, a Grade A tournament saw Alexandra Eala take the singles title and advance to the semifinals in the doubles. It was confirmation of her confidence and outstanding tennis. However, the success didn’t stop there. While September ended on a sour note, she was able to sustain it in October.

Her level of excellence in South Africa was also maintained in Osaka, Japan , last week, where she returned to competing on the ITF Junior circuit in a new Grade A tournament. On the Japanese hard court, she offered solid, aggressive tennis, in addition to her improvements on serve, combining backhand slices and the audacity to hit drop shots. She reached another final , and only a more experienced player, three years her senior, like Frenchwoman Diane Parry, could keep her from winning another trophy. “Although her level was already very high in previous tournaments, in Japan she once again showed solid, aggressive tennis, demonstrating great improvements in her serve, backhand slices, and also in her drop shots,” explains Rafa Nadal Academy coach Daniel Gómez.

These results are nothing new. Eala’s rise to prominence began a few years ago , and she already had a prestigious title at Les Petit As in Tarbes and a creditable runner-up finish at the U12 Orange Bowl . After a brief recharge, she’ll be ready to travel back to Miami next December to fight for this title again. She has every reason and a lot of hard work behind her to dream of another success. As a Filipino proverb says, “If you persevere, you will reap the rewards of your labor.”