Filipina tennis star Alex Eala has touched down in New York, carrying both anticipation and momentum as she prepares for her long-awaited US Open women's singles main draw debut.
Alex Eala has touched down in New York.
The 20-year-old Filipina tennis star shared a snapshot of herself in the Big Apple just days before her much-awaited US Open singles main draw debut.
[Instagram, @alex.eala]
It’s been a challenging few weeks for Eala, who suffered a Round of 128 exit at the National Bank Open against Czechia’s Marketa Vondrousova last July.
A shoulder injury sidelined her for nearly three weeks, forcing her to miss the WTA 1000 Cincinnati Open and leaving her eager to return to competition.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala pulls out of Cincinnati Open due to injury]
Ranked no. 70 in the world, Eala enters a draw that features some of the sport’s biggest names that include defending champion Aryna Sabalenka, world no. 2 and Wimbledon winner Iga Swiatek, and French Open winner Coco Gauff to name a few.
[ALSO READ: Fit-again Alex Eala dips to no. 70 in WTA rankings ahead of US Open]
The women’s singles bracket has yet to be finalized. But this will be Eala's third Grand Slam main draw of the season after appearances at Roland Garros and the All England Club.
The US Open runs from August 27 to September 7. Eala arrives with a 26-18 win-loss record this year, highlighted by a historic semifinal run at the Miami Open in March and her first grass-court final at Eastbourne in June.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala succumbs to Maya Joint in her first-ever WTA final in Eastbourne Open]
Once her New York campaign ends, she is expected to continue her busy stretch with a WTA 250 tournament in São Paulo, Brazil.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala slated for action in WTA’s return to Brazil after US Open]