Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is set for her first US Open main draw appearance and a busy global stretch through North America and Asia.
Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala is gearing up for a packed international schedule headlined by her highly anticipated US Open debut, where she hopes to clinch her first Grand Slam main draw victory.
Fresh off her rise into the WTA Top 100, the 20-year-old Eala confirmed during Globe’s Meet-and-Greet Friday, July 18, that she has a full calendar lined up in the months to come.
This starts with the WTA1000 in Montreal (July 27-August 7), followed by stints in Cincinnati (August 7-18) and Monterrey (August 18-23) before making her maiden main draw appearance at Flushing Meadows (August 24-September 7).
Eala earned direct entry to the US Open after breaking into the world’s top 100 for the first time in her career, a feat sealed by a breakthrough runner-up finish at the Eastbourne Open and a main draw appearance at Wimbledon.
“There's still a lot for me to achieve,” said Eala. “Of course, I hope to get my first Grand Slam main draw win.”
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But the grind doesn’t stop in New York. Eala shared that after the US Open, she’ll pivot back to Asia, with tournaments lined up in the China Open (September 24–October 5) and the Prudential Hong Kong Open (October 27–November 2).
“I'll be circling back to Asia, so playing near home will be nice,” she added.
Reflecting on her whirlwind year, Eala spoke about a powerful lesson from her coaching team that’s kept her grounded through the highs and lows.
“My coach told me, ‘When you’re doing bad, it’s not as bad as you think. And when you’re doing good, it’s also not as good as you think.’ It’s never too bad or too good—it just depends,” Eala shared. “Sometimes it will click and you will get results, and sometimes it will be a bit more difficult.”
With her current career-high ranking at no. 56, Eala’s steady rise continues to be her motivation as she eyes bigger wins and builds momentum toward a landmark season.
(With reports from Maureen Muarip/One Sports Digital)