Alex Eala targets SEA Games stint

If given the chance, Alex Eala wants to run it back and get another shot in this year's 32nd Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia this May.

The three-time junior girls' Grand Slam champion said if she will be available for the 5 to 17 May, she would love to represent the country again.

The 17-year-old scholar of the Rafael Nadal Academy is currently in Thailand for the Women's Tennis Association 250 Thailand Open in the resort city of Hua Hin which begins on 25 January. The event will end on 5 February.

"There hasn't been a set schedule for SEA Games or no one has reached out to me yet but I would love to represent the country again as long as it doesn't collide with the other competitions like Grand Slams.," Eala said.

"The process of choosing tournaments can be really tricky, especially if it is clay season or grass season when you really have to stick to one surface but we'll see."

Should she join the national team, Eala can still participate in the 2023 French Open, if she qualifies, which starts on 28 May.

Eala has captured three bronze medals in her biennial meet debut in Vietnam last year.

She got the bronze in the women's singles, mixed pair with Treat Huey and the women's team with Shaira Hope Rivera, Marian Capadocia and Jenaila Rose Prulla.

For now, Eala is focused on improving her game by joining more professional tournaments and boosting her standing, which is No. 214 in the latest WTA rankings

"My wish for myself is to be able to integrate myself into the WTA circuit," Eala said.

"I am really content with my ranking right now. I think it can get me to a few good tournaments but it's still not where I wanted to be."

"I understand it's a long process to get to the top 100 and stuff but that's one of my big goals."