MANILA, Philippines – From the historic hardcourts of Miami, worldwide overnight tennis sensation Alex Eala now zones in on writing more exciting chapters in her bustling professional career with her first guaranteed main draw entry in the 2025 French Open late this May.
Now holding yet another career-high Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranking of world No. 73, the 19-year-old is by no means resting on her laurels despite going on a giant-killing spree in the recent Miami Open, highlighted by a shocking sweep of world No. 2 Iga Swiatek.
“[No. 73] sounds amazing. You know, at this level, every spot forward counts. So I’m super blessed to be in this position,” she said in an online interview hosted by BPI and Globe on Tuesday, April 8.
“I never expected it maybe a month ago that I would be here right now. [I’m] so surprised, but in a good way, and motivated, definitely.”
Fittingly, Eala’s first guaranteed main draw entry in a Grand Slam will come in the French Open, the clay court tournament that cemented the legend of her mentor, Rafael Nadal.
Nadal, who has 14 of his 22 Grand Slam titles from the French Open alone, holds an astounding record of 112-4 from his debut in 2005 all the way to his retirement in 2024, and won four tournaments without even dropping a single set.
Eala knows full well the history that awaits her on the clay, but is intent on starting her own legend, should the opportunities present themselves once she gets there.
“Rafa has been a big role model, not just for me, I think for everybody,” said Eala, who graduated from the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2023, which even had Swiatek then as keynote speaker of their graduation ceremony.
“He’s such a huge role model and to be mentioned in the same breath is very nice to hear. Roland Garros meant so much to him as a player and he’s achieved so much,” she continued.
“I’m trying to just make my own path. I want to do well in Roland Garros not just because Rafa did well there. I want to do well there because it’s what I want to do and I believe that I can do well on the Grand Slam of clay.”
Last year, Eala fell in the qualifiers to Julia Riera, who today is at world No. 139.
This May, the stage is now set for Eala to prove that her Miami run is no fluke, but that she can adapt to the conditions the world’s best — now including her — are subjected to. – Rappler.com
