Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.
— Brazilian legendary footballer Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known by his nickname Pelé
MAYPAJO, Caloocan City — Our pride, Alexandra ‘Alex’ Eala, unfortunately had little time to celebrate her Washington title with the Canadian Open having already arrived, but she showed her grit as she trounced American Alycia Parks in her opening match at the WTA 1000 tournament, where she is also playing doubles with the legendary Venus Williams.
Looking back, Alex’s Washington run culminated in an astounding final win over world No. 4 and tournament second seed Jessica Pegula of the United States—one of several reasons why the Filipina superstar deserves huge applause.
Speaking after the defeat, runner-up Pegula said of Eala: “She is a great ball striker, great player, great competitor. I think we have seen that over the last few years, she has had good results.
“I think this year it seems she is finding some more consistency with her results; she has beaten quite a few top players this year, including myself.
“She is tricky to play against; she is a lefty, she hits the ball well. She kind of baits you with her lefty serve.
“I have seen her in the gym a lot. I think she is trying to work on getting stronger and moving a bit better, and I think that is probably going to come with time.
“I just think it’s so refreshing and nice to see how well she has handled her fandom and stardom which has come with her being from the Philippines, and how they have really embraced her.
“It’s crazy how she deals with it every single week, which just shows her maturity as a player and a person.
“I have a lot of respect for her and like her a lot; I think she’s a really nice girl. It’s cool to see what she has brought to the women’s game; she is great.”
Hearing these words from one of the top netters in the world validates why we see Alex as the ‘Queen of the Court’.
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ia/xf
