By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Training never stops for junior tennis sensation Alex Eala ever since she arrived from Spain to spend the holidays with her family.
In a recent guesting with Noli Eala’s Power & play program, Eala said she’s spending five hours a day training based from the modules that her coaches from the Rafa Nadal Academy are sending.
“It’s preseason now. Basically we’re focused on fitness while there are no tournaments and it’s going to be the base for the rest of the year,” Eala said.
The 15-year-old Eala, who has been training in Mallorca, Spain for the past years, said she was proud of what she had achieved this year despite the challenges brought by the pandemic.
“My goal for this year in juniors is to end the year in Top 10 and now, I’m currently No. 3 and I’m very happy for that, especially given the circumstances and obstacles. I’m just glad I was able to put up results,” she said.
“I kinda fell short in the Futures and WTA because I haven’t joined that much women’s tourneys, but I’m still training to work hard and stay optimistic for next year.”
Eala highlighted her junior career with an Australian Open junior doubles title with Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho last January, as well as a semifinal finish at the French Open Juniors.
Eala’s Australian Open feat made her only the second Filipino to win a Grand Slam title since Francis Casey Alcantara triumphed in doubles in the same tournament 11 years ago.
She reached the second round thrice in five times she took part in five $15,000 women’s tournaments.
“Hopefully next year I’ll get more competitions in the women’s events,” Eala said.
Eala is confident she is “at the best that I can be this year”, but she said there are a lot of things to improve in her young career.
“I have been working as hard and I think lately, I have been working harder than I have in my life. There is still room for improvement like my serve and hopefully I’ll start my year strong,” she said.
