ALEX Eala dipped one rung to No. 58 in the latest Women’s Tennis Association world rankings yesterday, providing the extra motivation needed when she swings into action in the opening round of the Jingshan Tennis Open today in Jingshan, China.
Seeded No. 1, Eala, 20, is heavily favored to hurdle Aliona Falei, 21, ranked a lowly 322nd, at 10 a.m. at center court of the Jingshan International Tournament Center of the WTA 125 meet offering 125 WTA ranking points and $15,500 (about P885,000) to the champion.
The comely Filipina netter took a well-deserved break in Manila after a successful Central and South American swing two weeks ago, highlighted by her winning her first WTA title by capturing the Abierto Zapopan Open women’s singles crown in Zapopan, Mexico.
She also reached the quarterfinals of the Sao Paulo Open in Sao Paulo, Brazil, where her seven-match winning streak was snapped by Indonesia’s unheralded Janice Tjen, who pulled off a 6-4, 6-1 upset at the Maria Esther Bueno Center Court at the Parque Villa-Lobos inside the scenic Brazilian city.
Given her stinging experience from the last outing, trust Eala not to let her guard down against the Belarusian right-hander, who was once ranked as high as No. 173 and has won five ITF women’s titles.
