By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala hopes to start the year right after securing a berth in the qualifying round of the 2024 Australian Open.
In an updated list as of Wednesday, Dec. 27, the 18-year-old Eala has been included in the qualifying field that is bannered by 2021 US Open Champion Emma Raducanu.
The Filipino teen sensation is currently ranked No. 190 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA).
Qualifying matches for the said Grand Slam is slated on Jan. 8, 2024 with the main draw firing off on Jan. 14 to 28.
Aside from Raducanu, among the big names in qualifiers are former World No. 5 and 2012 Roland Garros finalist Sara Errani, Chinese Taipei veteran Hsieh Su-wei, who like Raducanu has entered using a special ranking, and former Top 15 players Alize Cornet and Kaia Kanepi.
To prepare herself, Eala will see action in the WTA25 Canberra International also in Australia that will start on Sunday, Dec. 31.
Eala left for Canberra last Tuesday, Dec. 26, after spending the holidays with her family in Manila.
This marks the second time that Eala will be competing in the Australian Open. Last year, she also managed to earn a qualifying seat but suffered an early exit.
Eala is coming off a successful year after winning bronze medals in the women’s singles and mixed doubles at the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China last September.
She also clinched two pro singles titles – the W25 Roehampton and W25 Yecla – for a total of four pro titles in her career.
She went as high as No. 189 in the WTA last October.
