Alex Eala relished the experience of playing a WTA tournament on home soil, with the story of her first Philippine Women's Open match being more than just a win.
It took just one hour and 13 minutes for Alex Eala to take the win against Alina Charaeva, 6-1, 6-2, making for a dazzling debut in the Philippine Women’s Open on Monday.
But for the 20-year-old rising WTA star, the win was a product of years of waiting and dreaming.
Eala stepped on center court to cheers of a sellout crowd at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, culminating a years long dream of bringing high level tennis to the heart of Manila.
[RELATED: Alex Eala drubs Alina Charaeva for blazing start to Philippine Women’s Open]
Even as she battled through cramps after going down 0-2 early in the second set, Eala said that the whole experience was exhilarating.
“Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa inyong lahat na nandito kayo. Mahirap ibahagi yung nararamdaman ko ngayon kasi matagal ko na ‘tong pinapangarap so maraming salamat,” Eala said on her first home win as a WTA pro.
Currently the world no. 49, Eala is the second seed in this WTA 125 tournament.
She flexed her dominance in the opening set, breezing past Charaeva, 6-1, in a stanza that took only 24 minutes.
Even so, Eala had to face some adversity before scoring this landmark of a win.
After finally being on the board in the second set, Eala had to take a medical timeout down 1-2.
She then needed to save three break points in the very next game just to tie things up.
But riding the crowd’s energy, the Rafa Nadal Academy scholar quickly rediscovered her groove and would win the match by winning six straight games.
All roads lead to home
Though Eala has competed in bigger tournaments than the Philippine Women’s Open, there was nothing that could compare to her experience playing on home soil.
Some eight years removed since she last played in Manila, there was something about the circumstance that made the win feel even more special.
For Eala, the Philippine Women’s Open, and her success here, is hardly just about the numbers.
Rather, it’s a testament to the growth — both for herself and Philippine tennis.
[RELATED: Alex Eala dazzles in Philippine Women's Open debut]
“I think it’s such a full circle moment to see how far tennis has come in the Philippines. I think playing matches and seeing my two worlds collide kumbaga, being in Manila and the WTA Tour, and seeing it come to life is so full circle and so emotional for me,” said Eala.
“It’s allowed me to reflect on how far I’ve come and it really makes me proud of myself,” she added.
As Eala takes in the emotions of her first home win, the competition has just begun.
After marching on to the Round of 16, Eala will now prepare for her next opponent on Wednesday.
She plays the winner of the Round of 32 match between Nao Hibino and Himeno Sakatsume.
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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.