AFTER an unexpected early exit in the Oeira Ladies Open in Portugal, Alex Eala hopes to get back on track when she competes as a wild card entry in the women’s singles of the Mutua Madrid Open starting today at the magnificent Caja Majica (Magic Box) in Madrid, Spain.
Despite being the top seed in her first clay court tournament of the season, Eala, 19, ranked No. 72 in the Women’s Tennis Association world ratings, was upset by Hungarian Panna Udvardy, rated No. 137 via 6-7 (4-7), 4-6 decision in the second-round last week.
Since then, the pretty Pinay southpaw has had time to rest longer and reflect on her previous mistakes before resuming her campaign in the tournament offering a total of 1000 WTA points and $1.120 million (around P63,518 million) to the champion.
Unlike the previous tourney, Eala will have a tougher draw to negotiate, beginning with right-handed Bulgarian veteran Viktoriya Tomova, 30, ranked No. 63, who will be her first-round opponent today at 5 p.m. (11 a.m. in Spain).
Eala stands three inches taller than her 5-foot-6 opponent, but will have painfully learned her lesson not to take anyone for granted, especially against someone who is slightly higher than her in the ratings and has more experience.
Should Eala prevail, she will be up next two days later against a familiar figure in Mutua Madrin Open defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland, the world No. 2 and second seed in the competition.
Eala humbled Swiatek 6-2, 7-5 on March 27 in the quarterfinals at the Hard Rock Center Court of the Miami Open, so expect the Polish player to have no qualms in seeking revenge under different court conditions.
Hopefully, Eala will have five-time Madrid Open and mentor Rafael Nadal, responsible for her being taken in as a scholar at the academy named after him when she was 12, in her corner as she takes to the court today.
A four-time French Open women’s singles titleholder, Swiatek beat Russian world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka 7-5, 6-4, 7-6 in last year’s singles finals.
