Slam dilemma: Eala and Tjen set the bar high for SEA rivals

Leave no stone unturned: Deputy CDM Datuk Kenny Goh (centre) speaking to the tennis players during the visit. — Bernama

PETALING JAYA: The presence of Grand Slam players in the SEA Games in December could prove to be a challenge for the national women’s tennis players.

The Philippines are set to have Alexandra Eala, the first Filipino to win a main draw match at a Grand Slam at the US Open this year, to lead the team in Thailand from Dec 9-20.

Indonesia will also have their own history maker in Janice Tjen, who became the first from her nation to win a main draw Grand Slam match at the US Open.

National tennis coach Muliyadi Jamal said this would prove to be an obstacle for the team to make it far at the SEA Games.

“We know the Philippines has Eala, she’s a Grand Slam player and she’s ranked in the top 50 in the world,” said Muliyadi during the team’s training session at the National Tennis Centre in Jalan Duta.

“And Indonesia have Tjen, this will be a hurdle for us. Thailand also have several players in their side. Let’s see how things go in Thailand.”

Muliyadi said Malaysia would be represented by Sharifah Elsa Wan Abdul Rahman, Shihomi Leong, Daania Daniella Hazli, Lim Zan Ning, and Hannah Yip.

The men’s team will have Mitsuki Leong, Koay Hao Sheng, Imran Danial Abdul Hazli, Darrshan Suresh Kumar, and Naufal Siddiq Kamaruzzaman.

Malaysia’s best result at the SEA Games was at the previous edition in Cambodia, where they won two bronze medals in 2023.

Mitsuki and Hao Sheng claimed bronze in the men’s doubles, and also the men’s team bronze together with teammate Christian Liew.

But Muliyadi warned that things could also be tough in the men’s category, with Thailand being the defending champions in the team.

“Thailand have an advantage in the men’s team because they have several players who are good, and they are ranked higher than our players,” he said.

With several players currently studying and playing collegiate tennis in the US, Muliyadi said their players would gather for the centralised training camp at the end of November.

“There are still two months left for the SEA Games, so I hope there won’t be any injury concerns,” he said.

SEA Games deputy chef de mission and Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) secretary general Datuk Kenny Goh was also present at the training session.