Admit it or not, Filipino tennis star Alex Eala has payback at the back of her mind when she meets Alina Charaeva for the first time in six years.
All eyes are on the second-seeded hometown darling as she starts her homestand debut since turning pro against a familiar Russian foe at the start of the historic Philippine Women’s Open today.
A sellout crowd is expected to fill the spruced-up Rizal Memorial Tennis Center to witness the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) No. 49-ranked Eala in action in the scheduled 7 p.m. Round of 32 encounter.
Eala gets a shot at avenging her 3-6, 3-6 first-round defeat to the world No. 163 netter in an International Tennis Federation match in Spain back in September 2020.
However, the 20-year-old Eala has downplayed the revenge angle.
“She’s a very nice person and a great player,” Eala said of her 23-year-old opponent.
“So, I’m just going to go and I’ve done everything to prepare to the best of my ability. So, I’m going to go and do my best.”
Eala is keen on pleasing the Filipino gallery more than anything else in the tournament, born out of her desire for the country to have a tournament to call its own.
“I never, going into any tournament whatsoever, I never go in expecting to win the whole thing. So, although this is at home, my mindset in that sense is no different,” said the Rafael Nadal Academy product.
“So, I take it match by match. I’ll do everything I can to win my first one. But if not, you know, it is what it is.”
Eala is coming off a strong showing in the ASB Classic. She reached the semifinals but fell short against Wang Xinyu, 7-5, 5-7, 4-6.
Eala had a first-round exit in her first Australian Open women’s singles debut, losing to Alycia Parks, 6-0, 3-6, 2-6.
Charaeva exited the opening round of the ASB Classic and bowed out in a tightly contested match against Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, 3-6, 7-6(2), 6-7(10), in the first round of the Australian Open.
Also seeing action in the first round are three more Filipinas: Kaye Ann Emana, Tennielle Madis and Elizabeth Abarquez.
Emana faces Tatiana Prozorova of Russia, Madis meets Thai Mananchaya Sawankaew and Abarquez tackles Japanese Mai Hontama.
Eala hopes playing at home will have a positive effect on the Filipinas’ bid.
“We’re here, we’re at home. So, just enjoy. Enjoy and do your best,” Eala said.
“I think being at home, I can only speak for myself, but I assume that we’re more motivated than ever.”