Alex Eala shifts focus to tough hardcourts ahead of US Open

ALEXANDRA “ALEX” EALA’S story didn’t end in London. If anything, it just started.

From the elegant England grass, the Filipina star transitions into the tough hard-court swing of the United States equipped with an all-time high morale, richer lessons and an even bigger legions of fans behind her.

“This week in general will add to my confidence,” said Ms. Eala, after netting a string of firsts not only for her young career, but for Philippine tennis in a magical Wimbledon run.

Marching on to the mecca of tennis — the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club — as the first Filipina seeded player in history at No. 29, Ms. Eala didn’t shy away from the bright lights.

She embraced it like her own as apart from the seeding history, the 21-year-old Ms. Eala also soared as the first Filipina match winner in Wimbledon ever and the first to reach the third and fourth rounds of any major.

Her 4-6, 6-4, 3-6 loss to world No. 17 and No. 13 seed Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the Round of 16 could not even dampen those.

“I gave everything that I could, did everything that I could do so I’m proud of that. I have to be proud of what I’ve achieved this week. I’m leaving with positive thoughts,” beamed Ms. Eala.

“There are so many positives. One I think is how I’ve handled pressure. Of course, the more you want to win, the pressure goes along with that. I’m happy how I faced it head on. I think I kept cool when I needed to, controlled my emotions and overall performed the best that I could that day.”

Ms. Eala’s highlight as one of Wimbledon’s breakout stars was a 7-6(9), 6-2 masterclass on dethroned champion and world No. 3 Iga Swiatek of Poland in the Round of 32.

It’s her second win over Ms. Swiatek and seventh career overall against Top 10 players, catapulting her to a projected new-career best of No. 28 in the WTA rankings and the biggest purse of her young pro stint yet with £300,000 or P24.6 million.

Her rise made heads turn around the globe with praises from President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., boxing legend Manny Pacquiao and OPM legend Lea Salonga to Catherine, Princess of Wales, her super idol Maria Sharapova and tennis icon Billie Jean King, among the few.

Marvel stars, too.

Ms. Eala’s campaign also included wins against WTA No. 75 Renata Zarazua of Mexico, 6-1, 6-2, and WTA No. 87 Maya Joint of Australia, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 in the first two rounds. She avenged her heartbreaker against Ms. Joint in the Eastbourne final last year for a foiled maiden crown.

Overall, Ms. Eala had a 12-4 record on grass also glittered by a title in Birmingham — her career second — and a Final Four finish in Berlin marked by victories against No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan and No. 8 Elina Svitolina.

And all of these feats molded her to a ready warrior, regardless of a rival in the way from here on starting in the Mubadala DC Open in Washington D.C., where Ms. Eala is already listed.

The lefty ace from the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain is also expected to vie in the National Bank Open in Canada, the Cincinnati Open and other WTA Tour stops in the States as part of her buildup for the US Open, the season’s last major, on Aug. 30 to Sept. 13 in New York.

“It’s been one of my best results so of course, it will add confidence,” added Ms. Eala, who previously exited early in Australia Open and the French Open, the year’s first two Slams before a grass breakthrough in Wimbledon.

Ms. Eala last year made her first feat in a Grand Slam by becoming the first Filipina winner in the main draw after stunning the then world. No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark.

Now considered as one of the global tennis poster girls, Ms. Eala blew that milestone out of the water in Wimbledon and she’s out to break it all once again in her US Open return. — John Bryan Ulanday