Alex Eala left for Australia on Tuesday to kick off her professional season starting with the WTA 125 Canberra International that opens on 31 December at the Canberra Tennis Centre.
The 18-year-old tennis sensation flew out of Manila after a month-long vacation highlighted by their Christmas celebration in Boracay on Monday.
While in the country, Eala kept herself in shape by working out under the watchful eyes of his Rafael Nadal Academy coaches led by Dani Gomez of Brazil at the Manila Polo Club. She also spent time with her father Mike, mother Rizza and brother Mico and took a time off by watching Game 2 of the best-of-three finals series between Creamline and Choco Mucho in the Premier Volleyball League.
Now, it’s back to work for Eala as she competes in Canberra, a warm-up event for the qualifiers of the Australian Open that offers a total prize of $320,000 with the world’s top 100 players seeing action.
“I’m trying to look at the short term, so I’m preparing for the Australian Open 2024. I’ll be joining the qualifying, that’s on 8 January,” the 18-year-old Eala said in a previous interview.
“That (Australian Open) is my big focus right now. And hopefully next year, my goal is to join all four Grand Slams.”
Eala, who tied her career-high 189th rank in the Women’s Tennis Association ranking this month, made her pro debut last year in the Australian Open women’s singles qualifying.
She, however, bowed to veteran Misaki Doi of Japan in her first match after a tightly contested three-setter.
But Eala would eventually win two singles titles in the ITF circuit in Spain and the United Kingdom.
Then, she claimed the country’s first Asian Games medal since 2006 after emerging with a bronze in the women’s singles and mixed doubles events with partner Francis Alcantara in Hangzhou.
“I think that the year had a lot of ups and downs, especially in the first half. I struggled there. I think I had some tough moments during that time, but I’m happy with how I was able to turn it around in the second half,” Eala said.
“I think I really blossomed and grew during that second half and I was able to bring out some of my best results and best tennis.”
