Alex Eala falls to Thai rival in W100 Takasaki

Photo from alex.eala/Instagram

After a brief homecoming in the Philippines, Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala has returned to international competition, but her journey at the Takasaki International Open came to an end in the quarterfinals just recently. 

Once Southeast Asia’s top-ranked player, she has seen a dip in her world rankings. After reaching a career-high of 143rd earlier this year, Eala has now dropped to 163rd in the latest standings.

This change comes after a string of challenging performances, including her recent quarterfinal exit at the Takasaki International Open in Japan. 

The Rafa Nadal Academy student, who had earlier advanced to the final eight of the ITF W100 tournament, faced a tough opponent in Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew. Despite a strong start, Eala fell in three sets, 6-4, 1-6, 2-6.

Eala began the match on a high, claiming the first set with relative ease. However, Sawangkaew quickly turned the tide in the second set, dominating the Filipino player with a commanding 6-1 score.

Showing signs of fatigue after her earlier victories, the Filipina netter was unable to recover in the final set, ultimately yielding the match to her Thai counterpart.

This loss marks a turning point in Eala’s career, as she was recently surpassed by Sawangkaew in the WTA rankings.

Sawangkaew on the other hand, now ranked 139th, has taken over as the highest-ranked player from the region, marking a shift in the regional tennis landscape.

As someone from the Rafa Nadal Academy, she recently expressed her gratitude to the international tennis training center in Mallorca, Spain, writing, “Thank you Rafa! You’ve influenced me in more ways than you know. You have set up unbelievable opportunities for me and countless other kids, and for that I am so grateful.”

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As she looks ahead, Eala’s determination to regain her place among the region’s elite remains unwavering. Despite the setback, her career trajectory promises continued growth as she seeks to bounce back and secure her place in future tournaments.