By MARK REY MONTEJO
Filipina tennis star Alex Eala was on cloud 9 after receiving a bouquet of flowers and words of encouragement from the Rafa Nadal Academy moments after she and French partner ruled the W75 Croissy-Beaubourg International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament last weekend.
RNA, a tennis camp by Spanish maestro and 22-time Grand Slam winner Rafael Nadal, heaped praises to Eala, who captured her second career doubles title since getting her first last January in India’s W50 Pune.
“Congrats @alex.eala on winning your second @itftennis doubles title! Great week at W75 Croissy-Beauborg tournament,” RNA wrote on its Instagram post.
“Mabuhay! Vamos!!,” RNA added.
The unseeded duo of 18-year old Eala and Estelle Cascino captured the crown by escaping British Maia Lumsden and host bet Jessika Ponchet, 7-5, 7-6, (4).
The doubles win eased the pain of Eala who was ambushed by German Mona Barthel, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, in the second round of the singles event.
Eala already received recognition from the RNA when she competed in the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, where she bagged two bronze medals in the continental showpiece.
One in the singles when she reached the semis – she eventually lost to China’s rising star Zheng Qinwen – and another in mixed doubles with veteran Francis Casey Alcantara.
