Alex Eala gumawa ng kasaysayan, kampeon sa US Open girls’ singles

BINUHAT ni No. 10 seed Alexandra Eala ng Pilipinas ang US Open junior trophy matapos ang 6-2,6-4 wagi laban sa second seed Lucie Havlickova ng Czech Republic sa girls singles final Linggo ng umaga sa USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center sa New York.

Ang 17-year-old Eala ay nangailangan ng 68 minuto bago malupig si Havlickova, ang world No.3 at kasalakukuyang French Open girls’ singles champion at gumawa ng kasaysayan bilang unang Filipino na nagkampeon sa junior Grand Slam singles title.

“I think I played very well and was mentally strong and I am happy I was able to keep my composure throughout the match,” Wika ni Eala sa kanyang post-match press conference.

Sinabi ni Eala na umangat ang kanyang junior ranking sa No.167, na marami siyang natutunan tungkol sa kanyang sarili sa kumpetisyon.

“I am very happy with the way I handled each and every point. I had a lot of moments in this tournament where I was down, and I could have lost a set and could have gotten mad easily but I didn’t. I think my behavior throughout the whole week was something I can be proud of,” Wika ng 5-foot-9 Eala, na naka base sa Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy sa Mallorca, Spain sa nakalipas na apat na taon.

Bago nakarating sa finals, dinaig ang No.8 Australian Taylah Preston, 6-2, 7-6 (7-1); No. 14 Russian Mirra Andreeva, 6-4, 6-0; at No. 9 Canadian Victoria Mboko, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5).

Si Eala ay hawak na ngayon ang 3 junior Grand Slam titles, kabilang ang 2 doubles mula sa 2021 French Open kasama ang Rusian Oksana Selekhmeterva at ang 2020 Australian Open kasama ang Indonesian Priska Madelyn Nugroho. Meron siyang career-high ranking na No.2 sa October 2020 kasunod ng semifinal appearance sa French Open girls’ singles.

Bilang pro, Eala ay kasalukuyang No. 297 sa WTA rankings. Ngayon taon nasungkit nya ang kanyang unang ITF W25 title sa Chiang Rai,Thailand at natalo sa finals sa ITF W60 event sa Madrid para marating ang career-high na No.280 noong July.

Nag-debut sa 2019 Southeast Asian Games na ginanap dito sa Pilipinas, nagwagi ng bronze medals sa women’s singles,women’s team event at mixed doubles kasama si Filipino American Treat Conrad Huey.