Eala no pressure in U.S. Open stint

Alex Eala is tempering expectations in her maiden stint in the US Open starting 24 August.

The 20-year-old netter doesn’t want to put too much pressure on herself when she makes her debut at the historic USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York City.

“Everyone’s itching to win three matches just to get into the main draw. I think now that I’ve directly been there and it’s going to be my first time in the (main draw of the) US Open, I just have to enjoy it,” the Rafael Nadal Academy product said.

“There’s no pressure for me because I’m still young and it’s still a new experience for me. I have to take advantage of that.”

Eala is currently in the Philippines for a short break before flying to Montreal, Canada, for the Canadian Open slated from 27 July to 7 August at the IGA Stadium.

The 5-foot-10 Eala earned a spot in the US Open main draw after moving up to No. 56 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) standings.

Eala is looking to go deeper in her third Grand Slam stint this year after suffering first-round exits in the French Open and the Wimbledon Championships.

She absorbed a 0-6, 6-2, 3-6 loss to Emiliana Arango of Colombia in the French Open last June and bowed 6-3, 2-6, 1-6 loss to Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in Wimbledon.

Eala is taking advantage of the break to rest and recover before heading back into action.

“I think when I’m in vacation mode, my body really collapses. Sometimes I don’t even know how I’m an athlete and how I train for so many hours but I think loading up on the rest is something I really need to do,” she said.

Eala will also compete in the Cincinnati Open from 7 to 18 August at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio and the Monterrey Open from 18 to 23 August at the Club Sonoma in Monterrey, Mexico.