A day for dreamers
Lately, whenever the historic Rizal Memorial Sports Complex turns into a hive of electric energy, it’s because of basketball, football or volleyball.
That wasn’t the case late Monday night.
Monday night was reserved for tennis. It was for Alex Eala’s debut in a home WTA tournament she had longed for. And it was for the dreamers that the Filipino tennis star held the door open for.
“I think it’s such a full circle moment to see how far tennis has come in the Philippines,” Eala told the crowd at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center after her 6-1, 6-2 victory over Alina Charaeva in the round-of-32 of the Philippine Women’s Open.
“Playing in this match and seeing my two worlds collide—being in Manila and in a WTA Tour [event]—is a full circle moment,” said the world No. 49, who last played in Manila as a rising junior prospect. “And it’s so emotional for me because it allows me to reflect on how far I’ve come and it makes me really proud.”
Speaking in Filipino, she also said: “It’s so hard to express how I feel because I’ve dreamed about [this moment] for so long.”
The WTA held its first event in the country to capitalize on Eala’s rising popularity. And on Monday, you didn’t even have to be a winner to feel like you were in a dream.
“I’m excited and happy that I was in the main draw [of a WTA event]. It’s just so unexpected,” Elizabeth Abarquez, who played in her first WTA event, said.
“I couldn’t even believe I was in the main draw. I thought I was only in the qualifiers, but I got into the main draw. I’m happy about it.”
Other results
This was the same Abarquez who got the boot in the Round of 32 from Japan’s Mai Hontoma, 6-0, 6-0 and yet it seemed like the loss was a footnote to the event.
“It’s such a big help because, of course. This is the first-ever WTA in the Philippines and world-class opponents are here too,” she said. “These are top opponents. They [are really] fast.”
Abarquez is not letting her exit stop her from sponging up what she can from this rare hosting. She is taking notes from the tournament, reminders that will help her improve her game. Already, a few pointers stand out.
“I still need more practice because I’m still slow on the court,” the 24-year-old campaigner said. “My movement is still pretty slow.”
“I need to improve my focus, too.”
In other matches, Kaye Emana and Justine Maneja lost to Latvia’s Darja Semenistaja and Argentina’s Nicole Fossa Huergo, 6-2, 6-2, in women’s doubles. Angeline Alcala and Joanna Peña also bowed to Yu Yun Li and Sara Saito, 6-0, 6-1.
In singles, Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand turned back rising Tennielle Madis, 6-4, 6-0.
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