By Kristel Satumbaga
Alex Eala is already gone after losing in the girls’ semis match Friday night (Manila time)
But don’t be so sad.
An American player with Filipino blood is still in hunt for her first Grand Slam title at the French Open in Paris.
Desirae Krawczyk, whose mother hails from Cagayan, is one win away from the women’s doubles crown as she and Chilean partner Alex Guarachi seek to dethrone defending champions Timea Babos of Hungary and Kristina Mladenovic of France.
Krawczyk and Guarachi are coming off a hard-earned 7-6 (5), 1-6, 6-4 victory over United States’ Nicole Melichar and Poland’s Iga Swiatek for their first Grand Slam finals appearance.
In 2010, then 16-year-old Krawczyk went to the country to compete in the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open where she eventually won the women’s singles and doubles titles.
Ten years later, the Arizona State University alumna has compiled four Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) doubles titles and hopefully, an additional Grand Slam crown.