By Tracy Cabrera
MANILA — Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala has returned to the United States to begin preparations for the upcoming hard-court season after spending several days in Manila reconnecting with Filipino fans and fulfilling commitments during a short break from competition.
Fresh from her breakthrough performance at Wimbledon, the 21-year-old tennis standout is shifting her focus to the final stretch of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) Tour, highlighted by the US Open, the year’s final Grand Slam tournament.
Currently ranked No. 29 in the WTA standings, the Quezon City native will open her hard-court campaign at the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C., scheduled from July 27 to Aug. 2.
Eala is also set to reunite with seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams in the doubles competition after the pair first joined forces during the Bad Homburg Open in Germany earlier in the grass-court season.
During her brief stay in Manila, Eala attended several fan engagements and promotional events, allowing supporters to celebrate her recent achievements following her historic Wimbledon campaign.
Before departing, the Filipina ace thanked her supporters for their unwavering encouragement, saying their continued backing motivates her to pursue even greater success on the international stage.
She emphasized that her journey is far from over, telling fans that she is “only getting started” as she continues chasing Grand Slam success.
Following the Washington tournament, Eala is expected to compete in Toronto and Cincinnati as part of her preparations for the US Open.
ia/xf
