By MARK REY MONTEJO
Not as popular as basketball or volleyball, but Philippine tennis, according to Alex Eala, will certainly gain traction after the staging of the Philippine Women’s Open next week.
The 20-year-old Eala is fully aware that her sport slowly regaining its popularity not only because of her valiant exploits that saw her break in the top 50 in the world but also to the massive effort by various groups.
Tennis enjoyed the peak of its popularity in 1991 when it defied great odds, beating the likes of China and Japan to set up a battle royale with Sweden in the Davis Cup World Group qualifying round.
Instead of gaining interest and attention, PH tennis retrogressed – no thanks to internal intramurals and lack of grassroots program.
But with the help of World Tennis Association, Eala is convinced the PH Women’s Open is just the start of good things to come for the sport.
“I think things will happen after, having a tournament like this brings in a lot of players, a lot of good competitions, and a lot of matches,” said Eala. “So I think with the people or the locals being exposed to this competition and this environment, naturally, they will get into it or things will happen in a natural manner,” she added.
Eala turned heads with her great achievements in the past three years that Filipino fans followed her competitions in different parts of the globe, the most recent was with her quick run at the Australian Open, where tennis stars Serbian Novak Djokovic and American Jessica Pegula took notice of.
For Eala, the current WTA No. 49 who is seeded as No. 2 in the first-ever WTA event hosted by the Philippines, vying before her “kababayans” on her home soil is already a big achievement for her.
“I think the fact that this is happening and the fact that I’m able to have a match at home is really the focus of this tournament,” Eala continued.
“And the fact that there’s so many Filipinos is the focus and highlight of this for me more than winning the whole thing. I never go to any tournament or whatsoever that I will win the whole thing,” she added.
The Guadalajara 125 titlist is treating her first-round clash against Russian Alina Charaeva with the same mindset – ferocious like a wounded tiger.
“Although this is at home, my mindset is intact and there’s no difference, so I take it match by match, everything I can to win my first one,” said Eala.
“But it’s not [easy], it is what it its, ganun talaga ang tennis, you can’t win it all the time,” she added.
Also in the main draw are Elizabeth Abarquez, Kaye Ann Emana, and Tennielle Madis.
