Alex Eala advances to WTA 500 main draw in Mexico

Photo from alex.eala/Instagram

“See you in [the] main draw.”

With her eyes on the prize, there is no stopping Filipina tennis prodigy Alex Eala. For her, there’s no other way but up, and this drive has brought her to the main draw as a pro.

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The 19-year-old global athlete showed her determination to win as she recently marked a significant achievement in her burgeoning career when she qualified for the main draw of a WTA 500 event for the first time with her commanding performance at the 2024 Guadalajara Open Akron in Mexico.

In the final round of qualifying, Eala triumphed over Great Britain’s Samantha Dawn Murray Sharan with a decisive 6-4, 6-2. Murray has claimed four singles titles and 28 doubles titles on the ITF Women’s Circuit.

The Rafa Nadal Academy student’s journey to the main draw began with a dominant win over Hungary’s Fanny Stollar, 6-1, 6-2, followed by her impressive performance against Murray Sharan.

Having entered the match as the clear favorite, Eala showcased her prowess against the 36-year-old Murray Sharan, who primarily competes in doubles and is ranked 116th in the world. Her highest singles ranking was No. 165 in the world, achieved in September 2013.

As an underdog in the competition, Eala prepares for her debut in the main draw as she is set to face Czech Republic’s Marie Bouskova, the 6th seed and world number 45.

This opportunity comes as a welcome turnaround for Eala, who has previously faced setbacks in the final rounds of qualifying tournaments.

Before winning the qualifying round, Eala posted photos on her Instagram showcasing her tennis outfit, which matched the court. She captioned the post with the trending pop culture reference, “You see how my outfit matches the court? Very demure, very mindful.”

Prior to this, Eala was able to edge closer to her historic US Open main draw as a pro, but failed to claim victory.