(DC file photo)
Filipina sensation Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala gets back on track as she enters the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 500 Ningbo Open in China to battle it out and up her performance following a string of heartbreak losses in recent tournaments.
Running right after the 1000 Wuhan Open, where she made an early exit falling to Chinese qualifier and world number 217 Shi Han, the Ningbo Open will unfold new opportunities for the country’s pride from October 19 to 25.
The world No. 19’s third straight loss to a player ranked significantly lower than her, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, is her worst of the season. The losing spell started at the Singapore Open second round where she fell to world No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, on September 24.
A week later at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, Eala bowed to world No. 85 Wang Xiyu, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, to settle for a bronze medal on October 1.
Then came the latest shock defeat to Shi on Octiber 12 in Wuhan, where Eala once again took the first set only to crumble afterward.
The 21-year-old likewise suffered a first-round exit in doubles with Turkish player Zeynep Sönmez, falling to the Ukrainian tandem of Dayana Yastremska and Anhelina Kalinina on Octiber 13.
However, Eala is putting these all behind her in Ningbo where she hopes to do better and rise from the losing streak to find the winning form she displayed during her conquest of the 500 D.C. Open last August.
As it stands, Eala is the 11th highest rated among direct entrants. World No. 1 defending champion Elena Rybakina will be the top seed followed by No. 4 Jessica Pegula, No. 6 Elina Svitolina and No. 9 Iga Swiatek.
The left-handed Filipina won’t have a first-round bye but is expected to face another lower-ranked player to start her campaign. She is only listed in the singles entry of the tournament.
