MANILA: Alex Eala will now set her sights on the Singapore Open after losing in the third round of the US Open on Sunday (Sept 6) in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Eala, tennis’ hottest draw, is one of the headliners in Singapore, alongside other WTA stars including World No. 3 Jessica Pegula, World No. 5 Mirra Andreeva, and World No. 10 Amanda Anisimova.
“I’m so excited to be coming to Singapore this September. I love playing in South-East Asia, it always makes me feel so at home, so I can’t wait to see you all at the Singapore Tennis Open at The Kallang,” said Eala in a video on Singapore Tennis Open’s Instagram two weeks ago.
The 21-year-old Filipino, ranked 18th in the WTA, bowed out at the US Open after losing to close friend and American teen sensation Iva Jovic, 5-7, 6-3, 5-7, in a thrilling match that lasted for three hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing Meadows, New York.
Indonesia’s Janice Tjen, whom Eala is scheduled to meet in an exhibition at Philippine Arena on December 8, is also on the entry list for the WTA 500 hardcourt tournament.
The Singapore Open kicks off on September 21 at OCBC Arena inside Kallang sports complex, where the Filipino diaspora is almost certainly coming in droves to rally behind their heroine.
Eala will aim for a second WTA Tour title at the Singapore Open after winning her maiden crown at the WTA 500 DC Open last month by knocking off Pegula in the final.
Shortly after her stint in Singapore, Eala flies to Japan for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, where she will be the favourite to win the gold. - Philippine Daily Inquirer/ANN
