Alex Eala’s stint in the final of the Eastbourne Open only proves she has finally arrived.
Regardless of what happens in her championship clash with Maya Joint of Australia, Eala has succeeded in convincing even the most discriminating fans of the sport that she is indeed ready for the big time and Wimbledon, her second Grand Slam, on Monday.
Being the first Filipino tennis player to enter the final of a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour on a grass court and clawing her way up from the qualifying round was a testament to her maturity and grace under pressure after years of losses and heartbreaks.
The 20-year-old Rafael Nadal Academy graduate is poised to shoot up as high as No. 56 in the live WTA rankings, her highest rank since becoming a professional in 2020, whether she wins or loses to Joint in a match being played at press time.
Eala became emotional after beating Varvara Gracheva of France, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, in their semifinal match last Friday.
“Super happy. There were tough moments where she was playing well,” an emotional Eala said moments after her hard-earned victory.
“It was a challenge for both of us, both physically and mentally. We both came from the qualifiers and had some moments where she was dominating. The fact that I was able to stay there and wait for my opportunity was a big achievement for me today.”
The stars have aligned for Eala to have her best run on grass this year.
For one, Eala is slated to pocket at least $ 30,380 (P1.7 million) for even making it as far as the final.
A win over Joint will give Eala her first-ever WTA Tour trophy and a whopping cash prize of $51,330 (P2.9 million).
Eala also looks favored in her upcoming Wimbledon debut despite taking on defending champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic in the first round.
The 29-year-old Czech netter had to pull out of her quarterfinal match at the Eastbourne Open against Gracheva due to a thigh injury, making her title defense uncertain.
Still, Eala knew better than to underestimate her opponents as she composed herself and focused on her matches.
“I’m only 20, but it’s a long road already, although it’s only the start of my career. I have a lot of experience getting to know myself, so I think that’s a big part of how I handle myself on court,” Eala said.
“I learned so much from that week, a lot about self-belief, and how to handle my emotions when things are going well, as well as when things are going really bad. To pump yourself up when you’re doing bad and to keep yourself humble when you’re doing well. It’s part of that balance.”
Eala first caught the fancy of tennis aficionados when she scored big wins over marquee names in the Miami Open last March.
There, Eala stunned Grand Slam winners Iga Swiatek, Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys en route to a semifinal finish when she was ranked outside the top 100, proof that she can no longer be taken for granted by the opposition.