ALEX Eala continued to inch closer to her first Grand Slam appearance early yesterday morning (Wednesday night in New York), outlasting Spanish No. 15 seed Nuria Parrizas Diaz 7-5, 7-5 in the second round of the US Open women’s singles qualifiers.
Displaying grit on court No. 4 of the Billie Jean King USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, Eala, 18, levelled up at crunch time to oust the former world No. 99 after one hour and 48 minutes of intense play.
Inspired by the Filipino crowd who roared “Go Alex”, the pretty Pinay southpaw more than held her own against the crafty Spanish veteran to move one match away from becoming the first Filipina to play in the main draw of the US Open.
Eala’s last hurdle for a main draw slot is Romanian Elena Gabriela Ruse, who whipped China’s Ma Yexin 6-3, 6-3. They tangle today (Thursday night in New York).
For perspective, Diaz, 33, “started to play professional tennis two years after Eala was born,” according to a report on the US Open website.
“Minsan-minsan lang ako naglalaro sa ganitong atmosphere. Napakasuwerte na maranasan ang suporta ng Pinoy sa New York. Maraming salamat mga kababayan! Tuloy ang Laban!” Eala said on her Instagram shortly after the hard-fought match.
