By Tracy Cabrera
THE 2,500-capacity newly renovated Rizal Memorial Tennis Center (RMTC) is expected to be jam-packed today as the country’s rising star Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala faces world’s number 163 Alina Charaeva of Russia in the Round of 32 of the first-ever Philippine Women’s Open.
The historic Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 125 event, which has a prize money of US$115,000 (approximately PhP6.78 million), gives Eala’s local fans a chance to see the 20-year-old lass from Quezon City in spitfire action on the hardcourt
Charaeva, ranked 131 notches lower than Eala’s, peaked at No. 142 in September last year—a career-high mark—but she still poses as a dangerous opponent as she has previously won six singles and five doubles titles on the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Women’s Circuit.
Eala, though, now No. 43 in the WTA wirld rankings, remains grounded despite the ranking gap, saying that complacency has no place in the world of tennis.
“I take it match by match. I’ll do everything I can to win my first one. But if not, you know, it is what it is. That’s just how tennis is—you can’t win all the time,” she shared, eyeing to up her rankings in the tournament.
Eala and Charaeva have faced off before, facing off in the Round of 32 of the second-tier 2020 ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour in Spain, where Charaeva won over the Filipina handily, 6-3, 6-3. Eala was only 15 at the time.
“Yes, I have met her (in Spain). She’s a very nice person and a great player. So I’m just going to go, and I’ve done everything to prepare to the best of my ability. So I’m going to do my best,” Eala enthused even as she mentioned that she is trying to tone down the high expectations of her countrymen.
“Do you expect me to win the whole tournament? I don’t know. No, I mean, 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 the tournament,” she cited.
“I never go in (a tournament) expecting to win the whole thing. So, although this is at home, my mindset in that sense is no different,” she added with a hint of a smile.
Yet, the Rafa Nadal Academy grad notes that having a home crowd cheering for her is a definite plus.
“Of course it’s an advantage. Playing home crowd is an advantage; that’s so special about playing at home, the crowd and the people that support you. Even in qualifiers match, you can see how many people are in the stands,” she pointed out enthusiastically.
Still, she appealed to her fans and supporters to be always respectful to the players competing in the tournament.
Wildly cheering Filipinos filled the stands when she played at the Australian Open in Melbourne less than two weeks ago, prompting the umpire to warn the audience against making noise during rallies.
