After a whirlwind grass season that saw her make history for Philippine tennis, Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala is hitting pause, but not for long.
Following her back-to-back appearances at the French Open and a milestone Wimbledon debut, the 20-year-old tennis star is now taking a short break, soaking in some sun and sea before jumping back into the competitive circuit.
In her Instagram post, Eala shared a photo of herself on vacation. But prior to that, she wrote in a post, “Sometimes, the grass is greener on your own side. See you all on the green next year!”
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Despite her first-round exits in both singles and doubles at the prestigious Wimbledon tournament, Eala still walks away with a hefty reward which is roughly P5.07 million. Had she advanced to the second round, the prize would have bumped up to £99,000,
Still, the early loss doesn’t dim the spotlight on Eala, who made waves by becoming the first Filipino to reach a WTA final just weeks earlier in Eastbourne. That accomplishment alone marked a high point in her grass court season, and it’s only fueling her hunger for more.
Now, it’s back to business. Eala is slated to compete next at the National Bank Open in Canada, a WTA-1000 tournament happening from July 26 to Aug. 7.
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The tournament recently announced its main draw entries, with Eala, currently ranked No. 56 in the world, among them. This serves as a crucial part of her preparations for the US Open, which runs from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7 in New York.
From clay to grass and now hard courts, Eala’s journey is a steady climb toward elite status. A much-needed break may have come in between, but don’t blink, she’s far from done.