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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Alex Eala begins first pro Grand Slam campaign at Australian Open

Alex Eala begins first pro Grand Slam campaign at Australian Open

Published Jan 8, 2023 03:31 pm

Alex Eala debuts in the pro Grand Slam tournament Monday, Jan. 9, when she sees action in the first round of the women’s singles qualifiers of the 2023 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia.

Alex Eala is competing in the women's singles qualifiers of the 2023 Australian Open. (From Rafa Nadal Academy)

The 17-year-old Eala begins her campaign when she clashes with Misaki Doi, a 31-year-old Japanese ranked No. 172 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).

While the world No. 215-ranked Eala is expected to carry her experience from playing in several pro events over the past years, the Filipina tennis sensation is wary of her veteran rival who has been a regular Grand Slam competitor since 2010.

Doi’s recent best Grand Slam finish is a Round of 16 appearance at the 2016 Wimbledon.

A victory for Eala would earn her a second-round meeting with the winner between Brazil’s Laura Pegossi and Belgium’s Magali Kempen.

Eala has previously competed in the Grand Slams, but only in the Juniors where she won two Girls Doubles titles and the 2022 US Open Girls Singles crown.

Her Girls Doubles titles came in the 2020 Australian Open with Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho and in the 2021 French Open with Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva.

Prior to the Australian Open, Eala is coming off a second round finish in the qualifiers of the W60 Canberra last week.

She, however, has two pro titles from the W15 Manacor in 2021 and the W25 Chiang Rai in 2022.

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