While Alex Eala singled out her unfamiliarity with clay as the main reason why she bombed out of the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal recently, the fast-rising Filipina netter swears she will eventually get used to playing the surface.

“I know what I have to improve. Clay is challenging for me,” Eala said after being shown the door by Panna Udvardy of Hungary, 6-7, 4-6, in the Round of 16.

“I grew up on hardcourts, but I think that I can play as well on clay as I play on hardcourts,” said Eala, who was the tournament’s top seed owing to her world No. 72 rating.

Udvardy entered the event rated No. 137.

The Portuguese netfest is one of several events Eala is using in preparation for next month’s French Open.

Eala is set to compete next in the Mutua Madrid Open, her second WTA 1000 tournament this year from 22 April to 4 May in Spain.

The 19-year-old Rafael Nadal Academy graduate will be in the company of the likes of world No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland and world No. 5 Madison Keys of the United States after beating them in the Miami Open last March.

Eala builds up for the French Open, which will begin on 28 May.