Alex the brave
WASHINGTON—There have been so many discussions about Alex Eala’s game, with experts trying to pin down exactly how—despite a service game that has been so criticized—the Filipino star is winning matches she isn’t supposed to win and beating opponents she has no business beating.
The world No. 28 gave those experts a lot of help late Friday evening, breaking down what “Eala tennis” is all about.
“Brave,” she said. “I’d say brave, flexible.”
That formula carried the 21-year-old Filipino into another WTA semifinal on Friday night after she stunned second-seeded Elina Svitolina, 6-3, 6-4, at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, her sixth victory this season over a Top-10 player.
The win, which followed her upset of defending champion Leylah Fernandez earlier, also secured Eala’s third semifinal appearance of the year and guaranteed that she will crack the world’s Top 25 when the rankings are released on Monday.
“That sounds amazing,” she said, referring to what will be a career-high ranking for her. “That sounds so surreal. That sounds actually crazy, but I’m super proud of it.”
Her latest victory against Svitolina, her second against the world No. 10 in two months, also added another chapter to a growing mystery surrounding the Filipina left-hander, who continues to thrive against the sport’s elite despite a serve that has often come under scrutiny.
Against the Ukrainian, Eala found herself broken again in key moments, but she somehow managed to take those breaks back with aggressive, yet patient, returns.
“Of course you want to hold your serve and I do my best to hold my serve,” she said. “But if it doesn’t happen, I think each game is an opportunity. I just try to do my best in each opportunity that I have, which is each point.”
Pressed on her recent string of successes, Eala rattled off some of the habits that has helped her thrive.
“Training, preparation. Practice, practice, a good mentality, a will to win, a will to endure and try to find solutions,” she said. “I can’t say that I’m perfect at it, definitely far from perfect, but that’s what I strive to be.”
While Eala is never one to overpower opponents, she forces them into uncomfortable patterns, mixing pace, angles and shot selection.
“I try to be patient,” she said. “I try not to be a one-dimensional player. That’s something I’m working on.”
That versatility was on full display against Svitolina, a former world No. 3, as Eala repeatedly disrupted her opponent’s rhythm before closing out another statement victory.
Afterward, she admitted she savored every moment of playing before a lively Washington night crowd.
“It was tough, but good,” Eala said. “I’m really, really happy. I had fun out there. It was a great battle.”
“The atmosphere out there was electric. I feel so loved.”
And despite having a trail of packed venues behind her, Eala said the rock-star treatment she gets each match continues to surprise her.
“When you feel this much love, it’s hard to get used to,” she said. “Every match is different, so every match is special for its own unique reason.”
Eala was facing four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka at press time, but regardless of the result, Eala continues to use every opportunity to inspire the next generation.
“I think they (young hopefuls) should take away that dreams should be big,” she said. “You can take inspiration from anything that you want … just be the best version of yourself, because you never know where that will take you.” —REPORTS FROM AFP AND INQUIRER SPORTS DESK
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