ADD AN Olympic champion to Alexandra “Alex” Eala’s giant-killing list.
Turning another page to her legend, Ms. Eala essayed a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback win against 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist Zheng Qinwen of China in Round 1 of the WTA 500 Mubadala DC Open in Washington on Wednesday morning at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center.
And with little to no breather, the WTA No. 28 Ms. Eala was to shoot for a quick follow-up at press time against reigning champion and No. 7 seed Leylah Fernandez, a Filipina-Canadian representing Canada, for a seat in the quarterfinals of the WTA-500 tourney.
The Mubadala tourney is Ms. Eala’s first tourney in the hard-court swing, transitioning from a stellar grass-court campaign. And despite a two-week lull after a homecoming in the Philippines, Ms. Eala is liking her chances in every tourney with an all-time high confidence and more experience.
After Mubadala, Ms. Eala will also vie at the National Bank Open in Toronto and Cincinnati Open back in the states leading up to the US Open, the season’s final Grand Slam, on Aug. 30 to Sept. 13 in Flushing Meadows, New York for more experience.
“I think I’ve already had that in me,” Ms. Eala said on her refined composure in the post-game presser after a crucial breakpoint in the homestretch of the second that turned the tide to her favor the rest of the way. “I think it’s definitely a mindset that you have. That being said, I think it’s been trained or I’ve practiced. I’ve had more experience now to implement that mindset at a higher level.”
With a win over Ms. Qinwen, WTA No. 123, Ms. Eala has now beaten all the Olympic medalists in Paris after also slaying silver winner Donna Vekic of Croatia (WTA No. 35) and Iga Swiatek of Poland (WTA No. 8) on multiple occasions.
But Ms. Eala vowed she has more to give, starting with finally beating Ms. Fernandez after 6-1, 6-4 loss in the Stuttgart Open, a clay tourney, earlier this year. Ms. Fernandez made short work of WTA No. 65 Magda Linette of Poland in the other Round of 32 pairing, 6-1, 6-4.
“That just comes also with the level of my tennis getting higher because you always want to win and you always want to fight. But I think now with the progress I’ve had this past year, I have a bit more ammunition to back it up,” she beamed.
“I’m super excited. Of course, the quick schedule is part of the job. I will do everything I can (against Ms. Fernandez).”
Before Mubadala, the 21-year-old Filipina had the best stretch of her blooming career on grass after a historic Round of 16 finish in Wimbledon, a second career title in Birmingham and a Final Four finish in Berlin.
That proved handy in her hard-court plunge, embracing the adversity after losing serve for a 3-4 deficit in the second set on the heels of 4-6 defeat in the opener.
Ms. Eala, however, proved that she’s already a well-equipped, battled-tested warrior in the arena even at a young age, and at the jaws of the Olympic champion at that, with six unanswered points bridging the last two sets. A 4-0 start in the clincher brought her home for the win.
And like her duel against Ms. Qinwen at center court of the grand Washington venue, Ms. Eala is banking on the Filipino support once more.
“The (Filipino) atmosphere makes it so fun to be out on the court. Thank you to everybody,” she added in an interview with PHILTA Board Member and ABS-CBN News’ Dyan Castillejo.
In fact, the Mubadala organizers admitted that at least 80% of the inquiries and requests for this year were particularly about Ms. Eala’s match schedules.
“When you look at the amazing players here and how many great stars there are, it says something about Alex’s following. Obviously, she’s been an icon in the Philippines, but (also) worldwide. So, there’s obviously Filipinos everywhere,” said Mubadala Tournament Chairman Mark Ein on the WTA website.
“I will say, earlier this year in the early spring our team said, this is a phenomenon that’s spreading, and we should try to get Alex to come to Washington. Having her here is honestly one of the really great things that’s already happened this year.” — John Bryan Ulanday