Sports

Alex Eala’s Wuhan Open ends in tough battle vs. doubles world No. 1

Despite a valiant effort, Eala’s campaign ends with a 3-6, 1-6 defeat

By: Gavin Martinez - @inquirerdotnet

INQUIRER.net US Bureau / 04:57 PM October 09, 2024

Photo from alex.eala/Instagram

Filipino tennis prodigy Alex Eala’s campaign at the WTA 1000 Wuhan Open ended abruptly as she fell to world No. 1 doubles player Katerina Siniakova in her opening match.

The 19-year-old Filipina netter from the Rafa Nadal Academy fought valiantly but succumbed to a 3-6, 1-6 defeat after one hour and 25 minutes of intense play at the Optics Valley International Tennis Centre in Hubei, China.

Ranked No. 150 globally, Eala was the lowest-seeded player in the main draw, competing alongside higher-ranked wildcard entries such as world No. 60 Katie Volynets of the United States, No. 80 Jaqueline Cristian of Romania and China’s own Wang Xiyu, ranked No. 95. She entered the tournament as one of four wildcard recipients.

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Despite her best efforts, Eala couldn’t find her rhythm against the Czech veteran, who leveraged her vast experience and tactical prowess to control the match.

This marked Eala’s debut in a WTA 1000 event, a significant milestone in her young career. Had she advanced, her next challenge would have been facing world No. 2 and three-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka in the second round.

While the result wasn’t in her favor, her appearance on this prestigious stage highlights her growing presence in the world of professional tennis.

Despite the setback, Eala’s performance continues to draw attention as she forges her path in the sport. Before her match, she posted an optimistic message on Instagram: “Wuhan! Nothing but happy to be here!”

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A post shared by Alexandra Eala (@alex.eala)

Her commitment to improvement is evident, with the Rafa Nadal Academy even sharing a training video captioned, “Energy, power, and passion. [Alex Eala] brings her precision and skill to the Rafa Nadal Academy, perfecting every move and raising the bar with each session.”