Alex Eala reaches round of 16 with dominant win over Dutch foe

FILE–Alex Eala of Philippines reacts during her women’s singles qualifying match against Emiliana Arango of Colombia during the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 18, 2024 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP

It seems like all the odds are in favor of Filipino tennis prodigy Alex Eala as she rides a wave of success, reaching new heights in her career and after clinching her first win in the singles match at the ITF W100 in Spain.

Eala, who has just achieved a career-high ranking of 155th in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) world standings, continues to shine on the international stage. Recently, she demonstrated her prowess at the ITF W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz in Spain, securing impressive victories in both singles and doubles competitions.

In the women’s singles Round of 32, the Rafa Nadal Academy student faced Lian Tran of the Netherlands. The 19-year-old athlete delivered a solid performance, winning in two sets, 6-4, 6-2, in just 1 hour and 10 minute-game.

Photo from alex.eala/Instagram

This victory propelled her into the Round of 16, where she is set to face a familiar opponent, Lucia Cortez Llorca of Spain.

Eala and Llorca have a competitive history, with the Filipino tennis player having defeated Llorca in a three-set thriller during last year’s quarterfinals in the same tournament.

While Eala’s recent achievements are commendable, fans and analysts have noted areas for improvement. Specifically, her service games will be crucial if she aims to replicate or surpass her semifinal run from last year and defend the 50 ranking points she earned in 2023.

Eala’s success isn’t confined to singles play. She has also made significant strides in the doubles circuit alongside her French partner, Estelle Cascino.

The dynamic duo recently triumphed over Spanish siblings Jimena and Carolina Gomez, securing a straight-set victory, 6-3, 6-2, in the Round of 16 in the same tournament. This win has advanced them to the quarterfinals, where they will face the Czech Republic’s Victoria Bervid and Italy’s Laura Mair.

Eala’s ascent in the WTA rankings is a result of her hard work and consistent performance one tournament after another. She previously reached No. 157 in May, and her recent jump to No. 155 underscores her steady rise in the highly competitive world of professional tennis at such a young age.