Priska Nugroho, who was Alex Eala’s doubles partner when she won the 2020 Australian Open Girls’ Doubles Championship, is competing for Indonesia in the SEA Games 2025.
NONTHABURI, THAILAND — A familiar face can possibly meet Alex Eala in the women’s singles tournament of the SEA Games 2025.
Representing Indonesia alongside WTA No. 53 Janice Tjen is Eala’s friend and former doubles partner Priska Nugroho — whom she won the 2020 Australian Open Girls’ Doubles Championship with while they were still competing in the juniors.
Now years into their own respective pro careers, Nugroho is happy to see players like Janice, Alex, and herself represent Southeast Asian tennis in the WTA Tour.
“I think it's awesome because, I mean, I would say we've grown together from like, like very young, and to see Janice, Alex, and the Thai players as well, Lanlana [Tararudee] and Mananchaya [Sawangkaew] doing well in the WTA, so to get to see more familiar faces in the tour, I think it's amazing,” Nugroho told One Sports.
“It proves that the Southeast Asians are going in a good direction. And I think it's, it's really fun to watch,” she added.
Familiar face down the road
Nugroho and Indonesia are headed to the gold medal match of the women’s team event against host nation Thailand.
But she’s also headed for the women’s singles event, where Eala will also be competing.
Having gone different paths since claiming the Australian Open Girls Doubles title five years ago, Nugroho is eager to have a reunion with Eala on the tennis court — even if they are on opposite sides of the court.
Knowing how well Eala has been doing the past few years, she’s excited to compete against the Filipina.
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“Yeah, why not? I mean, it's, it's been like, I don't know, when's the last time that I played her. So, and I know that she's doing really well this year, why not? And I think there's a chance that we might play together, [against] each other,” she said.
As of writing, there is no confirmed draw for the women’s singles which will begin on Saturday, December 13.
Unlike Nugroho, Eala did not see action in the team event, where the Philippine women’s team ended up with the bronze medal, having lost to Thailand in the semifinal on Friday.
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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.