Alex Eala became the first Filipino to win a singles Grand Slam title at the US Open Juniors Tournament last September 4. And now, only a few weeks after her historic victory, she’s back on the professional tennis circuit.
This week, the Filipina tennis star is competing at the W60 ITF tournament in Templeton, California. In fact, she just concluded her first match today, taking the victory over Shavit Kimchi in two sets, 6-0, 6-0.
Back on the professional circuit
While she returned to the US Open for the Juniors Tournament, Alex Eala has been focusing most of her energy on her professional career. Now, she competes mainly on the ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour.
The ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour is considered an entry- to mid-level professional tennis tour. Additionally, it is a tier below the WTA Professional Tour.
So far, she’s competed in 17 singles tournaments on the tour, and has won two titles. Eala won her first professional title in the W15 tournament in Manacor in 2021. This year, she won her second at the W25 in Chiang Rai.
With her focus on her pro rankings, she has risen to a career-high ITF singles ranking of 267 and a WTA ranking of 280.
And as a rising star, she will definitely be looking to continue climbing the ladder.
W60 Templeton
As she continues in her professional campaign, she is currently competing in the W60 in Templeton, where she is moving on to the second round.
In her first match in California, the 17-year-old Filipina won her round-one match against the Israeli tennis player, Shavit Kimchi. Against Kimchi, who reached a career-high ITF singles ranking of 65 earlier this year, Eala won in two straight sets, not giving up a single game.
In her second-round match, she will be facing Polish player Katarzyna Kawa.
Kawa is currently ranked 163rd on the WTA singles ranking and has achieved a career-high 221st ranking in the ITF. Additionally, she also came into the W60 tournament as the seventh seed.
Unseeded in the tournament, Alex Eala will be in for a challenge against the experienced 29-year-old. But, if her past competitions have shown us anything, it’s that she is motivated to make it to the top.
She will be competing against Kawa in hopes of moving on to the third round tomorrow at 3:30 AM, Manila time.