Tennis star Alex Eala would have to work on her consistency and mental focus to get good results in her second season as a professional.
Eala’s coach Daniel Gomez shares that after a short respite following a grueling 2023 season, the grind continues for the 18-year-old netter as she prepares to qualify for the Australian Open early next year.
“She’s a very instinctive player so we want to keep that instinct. Also, we are working a lot on fitness and some patterns to create a little bit more consistency in her game and keep her aggressive even against the tougher opponents,” the Ecuadorian mentor said.
Eala is set to join the qualifier on 8 January to get a crack at the main draw scheduled on 14 January.
The world ranked No. 189th made her pro debut last year in the Aussie Open women’s singles qualifier but fell short of making it to the main tournament after losing to Japanese opponent Misaki Doi in a tightly contested three-setter.
Determined to make it this time in the first of her target four Grand Slams, Eala and her team are busy addressing and improving all facets of her game including strengthening her mental focus.
“It’s very important to stay in the present because, in tennis, we are alone on the court. So it’s very easy that our concentration goes away and goes on to different things,” Gomez said of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Gamez double bronze medalist.
“We have to really focus on staying in the present, in the next point.”
Having experienced playing a full season as a pro, Gomez expects a more mature Eala in the coming season.
“She got very mature this year. It was the first year she played a full year in the professional (level). I think it helped a lot with her mentality to focus step by step and keep patient and that’s what I think is gonna be a long-term process,” the coach added.
Eala had a good run to end the season after a few setbacks in the first half of the year.
The Rafa Nadal Academy standout won two singles titles in the ITF Circuit in Spain and the United Kingdom.
