EALA SIBAK SA QUALIFYING OPENING ROUND NG AUSSIE OPEN

SA kanyang unang professional foray sa isang grand slam, nalasap ni Alex Eala ng Pilipinas ang 6-4, 6-7(1), 3-6 pagkatalo kay former Top 30 ace Misaki Doi ng Japan sa qualifying opening round ng Australian Open (AO) nitong Lunes.

Si Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) World No. 214 Eala, 17, ay naungusan ni 31-year-old World No. 308 Doi sa 2 hours at 37 minute match sa Court 8 ng Melbourne Park.

Sina Eala, singles champion ng 2022 US Open Juniors, 2022 W25 Chiang Rai, at 2021 W15 Manacor, ay kailangang manalo ng tatlong qualifying matches upang umabante sa AO main draw.

Mainit na sinimulan ng Filipino tennis star ang laro na may 4-2 bentahe, at tumugon si two-time WTA 125K Series winner Doi para sa 4-5 iskor.

Sa second round ng qualifying, makakaharap ni Doi si No. 14 seed at World No. 113 Laura Pigossi ng Brazil.

Bago ang kanyang pro grand slam debut, tinalakay ni Eala ang kanyang off-season sa kanyang International Tennis Federation (ITF) blog.

“My team and I did everything we planned to, executing everything really well. I was so happy with how my team constructed those five weeks,” isinulat nh two-time junior girls’ doubles grand slam champion ng 2020 Australian Open and 2021 Roland Garros.

“There was a significant focus upon my fitness during this period and I did a lot of aerobic exercises, while towards the end we concentrated more on specific training, points and technique. I feel in good shape.”

Ang AO Qualifiers ang ikalawang event ni Eala para sa taon, kasunod ng W60 Canberra kung saan nasibak siya sa second round ng qualifying.