Fearless Alex unfazed vs big guns

Facing higher-ranked and more experienced rivals no longer intimidates Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala.

In fact, the world No. 72 embraces the challenge of taking on the division’s top guns in her quest for glory.

The 19-year-old Rafael Nadal Academy graduate is currently battling world No. 2 Iga Swiatek of Poland in the Round of 64 of the Madrid Open at press time.

A repeat win over her 23-year-old Miami Open victim will take Eala to the next round against the winner between world No. 119 Maria Lourdes Carle of Argentina and world No. 31 Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic.

“What was quite a shock to me was that I won against Top 10 and Top 5 players,” Eala said.

“But the mindset is still, especially before matches, that you can beat them.”

Eala is coming off an impressive 6-3, 6-2 victory over world No. 64 Viktoriya Tomova of Bulgaria last Tuesday in her first WTA 1000 tournament win in the Top 100.

Regardless of what happens in Madrid, Eala will have more opportunities to improve thanks to her new ranking.

For one, the three-time Junior Grand Slam champion is set to enter another WTA 1000 competition, the Italian Open, from 6 to 18 May in Rome.

Not only will she have another chance to face Swiatek, whom she defeated 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinal of the Miami Open last March, she will also face other Grand Slam champions like Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia, Madison Keys of the United States, and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

These tourneys will prime Eala for her main draw debut in the French Open on 25 May at the Roland Garros Stadium.

So, Eala is absorbing all the help she can get to improve her skills. No less than Spanish legend Nadal, himself, has been giving Eala pointers.

“I still have a lot to improve on in that regard. I’m open to advice. But it’s true, Rafa helped me with my serve and I’m seeing a big improvement,” she said.

Expectations are high for Eala after her Miami Open rampage, which saw her take down Ostapenko and Keys to break into the semis.

“This is all new to me. I’ve had a sudden improvement, and it has put my name out there. I’m trying to get used to everything and to feel professional,” she said.

“When I go into the locker room with the other players, I just want to feel like one of them and to adapt as fast as possible.”

Eala is already assured of 30,895 euros or around P2 million for making it to the Round of 64.

A win over Swiatek, however, will give Eala 52,925 euros or roughly P3.4 million.