A DEAR FRIEND struck a dagger straight into Alexandra “Alex” Eala’s heart once more, putting an abrupt end not only to her US Open bid but to her vastly-improved Grand Slam season altogether.
Coming closer than ever to finally toppling one of her closest friends but also her biggest kryptonite, the Filipina pride fumbled her golden chance and crumbled under pressure when it mattered most for a heartbreaking 5-7, 6-3, 5-7 defeat to Iva Jovic of the United States in Round 3 of the US Open before a sellout crowd at the Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Ms. Eala never won a set against the 18-year-old American ace in their first two meetings and after finally doing it in a second-set masterclass, the 21-year-old Pinay was already knocking at victory’s door at last with what seemed to be a comfortable 4-2 upper hand in the decider.
She was actually on the cusp from match point, striking at break point twice in the seventh game for a potential 5-2 lead but to no avail as unforced errors hurt her chances and, in the process, haunted her down the stretch.
Ms. Jovic, world No. 14, went on to hold her serve then broke Ms. Eala the next game as part of her killer 5-1 finishing salvo that catapulted her to the Round of 16 against fellow American bet and world No. 4 Coco Gauff.
It was a marathon in three hours and three minutes, dubbed by the US Open as one of the greatest duels this year featuring the world’s “future,” with both Ms. Eala and Ms. Jovic refusing to fold in every serve, return and swing that drew “oohs” and “aahs” from the 23,771-seater stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.
When the smoke cleared, Ms. Eala’s hopes were flushed from being inches away from glory and amid the biggest expectations on her in a young career so far — highest world ranking ever (No. 18), highest Grand Slam seeding in history (No. 17 seed) and a bumper crop of US features like the New York Times, Forbes, Sports Illustrated, ESPN and the New Yorker, among the few.
Crowd silenced. Debut at the world’s biggest tennis venue spoiled. And for only a rare time of her blooming career just yet, tears fell for the usually fierce, resolute Pinay power.
Clad in custom blue Nike uniform in honor of the Philippine flag, Ms. Eala — with palms on her teary red face while carrying her two duffel bags on both shoulders — exited the tunnel of a venue filled by her compatriots that rallied behind her in the first two matches and every city she had been in this year.
Swept away along with her exit was a chance to solve the Ms. Jovic puzzle, who has now a compelling 3-0 record against her on all surfaces after beating her in the French Open (clay), 6-4, 6-2, Queen’s Club (grass), 6-2, 6-2, and now at the grand hardcourt of the Big Apple.
And thus Ms. Eala, who has won 10 of her past 12 hardcourt matches, fell from replicating her best Grand Slam campaign as well, which was Round of 16 finish in Wimbledon albeit she surpassed her second-round placing last year when she made her US Open main draw debut.
It’s also a massive improvement from her first-round exit in both the Australian Open where she entered the main draw for the first time and the French Open, where she coincidentally bowed to Ms. Jovic, too.
Overall, this was Ms. Eala’s first season to participate in all of the Slam main draws following a breakthrough run in Miami last year that catapulted her inside the Top 100 for direct qualification in all majors and WTA 1000.
And sweet pots came with it.
Ms. Eala bagged €87,000 (about P6.3 million) in the French Open and A$150,000 (about P6.7 million) in the Australian Open but had her biggest purse at the Wimbledon with £300,000 (about P25.4 million).
By reaching Round of 32, Ms. Eala — who has a career earnings of $1,682,305 before the US Open, will take home $290,000 in New York to bring her total to almost $2 million ahead of the rest of the WTA Tour.
But there’s more to it than those glitz and glamour for the Filipina pride, putting premium on the invaluable impact she had for Philippine tennis and the priceless bond with the Filipinos worldwide as she plots her next attack after falling short in the biggest stage and under the brightest lights of world tennis.
Ms. Eala, after all, has achieved aplenty, marked by her first WTA Tour title in Washington and a banner year to reach a new high for Philippine tennis highlighted by seven wins alone this season against Top 10 players (9-5 overall).
“It’s indescribable to sum up the support and how it makes me feel in just a few words. It’s a real privilege to experience this in a lifetime,” sighed the emotional Ms. Eala at the podium.
“Oh God, sorry. Playing on Arthur Ashe, and feeling the support, being in those environments, learning these lessons, and fighting and doing what I love. I’m really happy. I’m really lucky to have these opportunities, to have these people support me, and to be working hard and to be able to live this life how I’m living it.”
Even Ms. Jovic could not help but be moved into tears after advancing into the next round at the expense of her tour sister, whom she had battles with on the court marked by a doubles Final Four finish in the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand this year.
“I don’t even know what to say. That felt like a marathon. I felt like I lost my sanity five times over to win that match. But it’s really worth it for this feeling. I’m usually not one that shows that many emotions. But this one really meant a lot to me. It’s everything to have another match at the US Open,” beamed Ms. Jovic, who mirrored her 6-3 win over Ms. Eala in the Stars of the Open exhibition at the same venue last week featuring cameos of their dads on court.
“It says a lot about Alex (Eala) as a person. I’m gonna start crying. But it says a lot about her as a person to be able to do that after that type of match and still come over to hug me and wish me all the best. And even in the locker room behind closed doors so, that just says a lot about her and her character. She’s incredible.”
But all eyes, especially from the 7,000-island archipelago thousands of miles away, will still be on Ms. Eala and her revenge tour.
Heads may be down, eyes may be teary but it will not take Ms. Eala until next year to aim for the next big thing — and that’s to win it all in the Asian Tour starting with the Singapore Open and the gold medal for the Philippines in the Asian Games later this month in Japan.
The rest of the WTA Tour legs then come after with Ms. Eala, hungrier than ever, looking to settle unfinished business one by one, a friend or not, Ms. Jovic or whoever stands in the way. — John Bryan Ulanday