In a historic moment for Philippine tennis, Alex Eala launched the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open with an impressive performance, defeating Alina Charaeva 6-1, 6-2 in the first round. The match took place at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex and lasted just one hour and 16 minutes, showcasing Eala’s dominance on her home turf.
This victory also marked a significant turnaround for Eala, who had previously lost to Charaeva in straight sets at the 2020 W15 Melilla Open. From the first point, Eala established herself as the aggressor, effectively controlling the rallies and breaking Charaeva’s serve twice within the first set, ultimately securing a commanding lead.
The second set began with a surprising shift as Charaeva, currently ranked 163rd in the world, took the first two games, including an early break of Eala’s serve. However, the home favorite quickly regained her composure, breaking back in the third game and reasserting her dominance. Shortly after, Eala requested a medical timeout to address some discomfort, momentarily halting the momentum of the match. Nevertheless, she returned with renewed vigor, winning five consecutive games to close out the match on a high note, highlighted by a critical break in the fifth game.
Eala’s stellar performance was underscored by her impressive statistics, including five successful breaks of serve and a winning percentage of 77% on her first serve, alongside 61% on her second. In her post-match remarks, Eala expressed her determination to build on this victory, stating, “I’m trying to take it match by match and I’m in a good moment in my career. I want to say that I’m going up and I’m in my best ranking, especially playing at home with my family.”
Unfortunately, the day was less favorable for Eala’s compatriots, as both Tennielle Madis and Elizabeth Abarquez exited the tournament with first-round defeats. Additionally, the doubles competition saw the pairs of Angeline Alcala and Joana Victoria Pena, as well as Justine Maneja and Kaye Emana, also experiencing early exits.
Looking ahead, Eala’s next challenge will be against the winner of the upcoming all-Japanese encounter between Nao Hibino and Himeno Sakatsume, as she aims to further her progress in this landmark tournament for Philippine tennis.
