Alex Eala ‘nothing but happy’ to earn the Wuhan wildcard

Even before Alex Eala retired early at the Wuhan Open – a WTA 1000 event ranked just below the Grand Slams – the Filipino teenager is already grateful to have scored a spot in the main draw.

MANILA, Philippines — By then, Alex Eala’s opponents in the women’s professional circuit already have the blueprint on how to beat the Filipino teenage tennis ace: They can lean into her still-developing service game.

World doubles No. 1 and world singles No. 37 Katerina Siniakova did just that in the opening round of the WTA Wuhan Open when she thoroughly outclassed Eala in a straight set dismantling, 6-3, 6-1, on Tuesday, October 8. at the Optics Valley International Tennis Center in Hubei Province, China.

But it hardly seemed to have dented the determination of the Filipino teenager, who said before the match that she is “just happy to be here.”

Eala was one of only four players to receive a wildcard slot into the main draw of the tournament, a WTA 1000 event that was slightly lower in points and prestige than the Grand Slams and the WTA Finals.

Had the 19-year-old Filipina advanced, she would have faced three-time Grand Slam champion and world number 2 Aryna Sabalenka.

Eala got off to a strong start, breaking Siniakova in the very first game of the opening set.

The Filipina followed this up by holding serve to establish a 2-0 lead. But that turned out to be the last time she held her serve for the entire match.

Siniakova, a two-time Olympic gold medalist from the Czech Republic, started to find her feet in the third game when she got on the scoreboard by breaking Eala’s serve.

The 28-year-old then built a 4-2 lead, but Eala fought back with a service break to temporarily keep Siniakova at 4-3. However, that was the Filipina’s final show of resistance as Siniakova secured the next two games and moved ahead by a set.

Siniakova was unstoppable in the second set as she continued to attack Eala’s serve with ferocity and sent her young foe running around the court during their rallies.

After exchanging service breaks in the first two games, Siniakova swept the next five games, completing the match in just one hour and seventeen minutes.

Siniakova has won nine Grand Slam doubles titles and has singles victories over former world No. 1 players Naomi Osaka, Maria Sharapova, Garbiñe Muguruza and Angelique Kerber.

Her experience advantage over Eala was evident, earning 54% of her service points, compared to just 33% with Eala.

The Czech also dominated the return points, converting 67% of its returns, compared to 46% by the Philippine.

Ranked 150th in the world, Eala was the third-lowest ranked main draw entrant, behind world No. 162 and former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin of the United States and hometown bet and world No. 250 Shuai Zhang, who will be ranked 22nd in early 2023 place of the world.

Eala, who trains at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain, will most likely remain in Asia as six other WTA events are scheduled in China, Hong Kong and Japan in October. – Rappler.com