Wish me luck: Eala keeping fingers crossed ahead of Wimby debut
ALEX Eala can’t afford to take it nice and easy when play at Wimbledon starts.
Daily TribuneALEX Eala can’t afford to take it nice and easy when play at Wimbledon starts.
PHOTOGRAPH courtesy of ADRIAN DENNIS/agence france-presse
World No. 32 Alex Eala knows the quality of matches in the Wimbledon that one small mistake could turn her into a mere spectator in London.
Despite being seeded 29th, Eala believes she can’t afford to lower her guard in the Grand Slam event which officially began Monday.
As of press time, she was battling world No. 75 Renata Zarazua of Mexico in the Round of 128 of the third Grand Slam of the year.
“There are no handouts here, so every match is going to be difficult. I’m super focused,” Eala said.
“I think I would say I’m playing well. I’m feeling confident. I think I’ve been putting in the work, that’s for sure.”
“But then again, it’s a Slam. Everyone’s out to get you. So I’m ready.”
The Rafael Nadal Academy alumna said she can only hope for the best as she aims to make a deep run at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
“I like to say that tennis is a gladiator sport, right? So, I think I’m coming into Wimbledon playing well,” Eala said.
“The best I can do is go out there, give my all, and see where that takes me.”
The pressure is on for Eala as three Southeast Asian (SEA) players punched their tickets to the second round of Wimbledon after pulling off major upsets.
World No. 42 Janice Tjen of Indonesia defeated No. 24 Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez, 6-1, 7-6, in the first round, while SEA Games silver medalist Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand rallied for a 2-6, 7-5, 6-2 victory over world No. 21 Maja Chwalińska of Poland.
Another Thai netter, Lanlana Tararudee, stunned world No. 88 Lilli Tagger, 7-6, 5-7, 6-4, to advance to the Round of 64.
By simply reaching the first round of Wimbledon, Eala is assured of taking home £80,000 (roughly P6.5 million).
Advancing to the second round would earn Eala £126,000 (around P10.2 million) and could potentially set up a showdown with 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams.
Eala is also set to compete in the doubles event, where she will team up with world No. 48 Nikola Bartunkova of the Czech Republic on 2 July.
The Birmingham Classic finalists will face world No. 31 Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and world No. 104 Sofia Kenin of the United States in the Round of 64.
Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus is the tournament top seed while No. 2 is Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and No. 3 is Iga Swiatek of Poland.