By MARK REY MONTEJO
Alex Eala seeks to replicate her magical campaign in the Miami Open when she launches her campaign in the French Open Sunday, May 25, at the Roland Garros.
Standing her way for what could be a dream start in her first Grand Slam event as a main rounder is Colombia’s Emliana Arango.
An Eala win would be a perfect birthday present for herself after turning 20 on Friday, May 23.
This marks the second time the two will face each other and Eala is hoping to get her revenge on a bigger stage. Arango beat Eala, 2–6, 7–5, 6–1 in last year’s Miami Open qualifiers.
The 5-foot-9 tennis star eyes for a better finish, this time around, after suffering early exits in Madrid Open and Italian Open.
Eala rose to global fame when she reached the semis round of the Miami Open where she toppled several top guns like reigning titlist Iga Swiatek, Grand Slam winners Jelena Ostapenko and Madison Keys, Katie Volynets, and Paula Badosa.
Her amazing run was ended by Jessica Pegula in the semis.
If Eala, the WTA’s ranked No. 69, prevails over the world No. 88 Arango, she might arrange a second-round encounter with No. 8 seed Qinwen Zheng of China.
Zheng, for her part, must outlast Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova before she can challenge the Filipina lefty.
It can be remembered that Eala and Zheng fought once in the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games where the former absorbing a 6–1, 6–7(5), 6–3 loss in the semis.
Eala’s bronze-medal finish ended the Philippines’ 17-year medal drought in tennis event.
