By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Alex Eala looked comfortable in her first professional match after seven months to hand Hungarian Natalia Szabanin a straight-sets loss, 6-4, 6-1.
The Filipina top ace struggled in the first set and started flat, facing a deficit of 4 sets to none. She would go on to correct her early mistakes and found her footing as she employed a consistent baseline game.
Since clinching one game in her favor, Eala then dominated the Hungarian and did not look back to finish the first set on a high note, 6-4.
With momentum on her side, the prized netter then stayed focus and improved more on her ground strokes, striking efficiently that negated the opponent’s net game.
The second set was a walk in the park that concluded the Filipina’s dominant ending to whip Szabanin, 6-1.
World no. 4 Eala will next face Germany’s next big thing, Mara Guth, in a highly-anticipated second-round showdown.
Aside from joining in the French Open juniors singles category, Eala will be teaming up with American Elvina Kalieva with hopes of another grand slam doubles title.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, Eala nabbed her first grand slam doubles title when she joined the 2020 Australian Open juniors doubles tournament and will seek to carry on the momentum.
