By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala will have her hands full when she goes up against an experienced German foe when the 2023 Matua Madrid Open fires off Tuesday, April 25, at the claycourts in Madrid, Spain.
The 17-year-old Eala drew with world No. 71 Tatjana Maria in the opening round of the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 event where some of the best tennis players around the globe are competing for the crown.
Eala, who won last year’s US Open Girls Singles title, earned a wildcard berth in the main draw round that has top seed Iga Swiatek of Poland, Great Britain’s No. 1 player Emma Raducano, and this year’s Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka, to name a few.
However, this wouldn’t be the first time that Eala would be battling the 35-year-old Maria, who own three WTA singles titles.
Eala and Maria actually clashed against each other late in January at the Hua Hin Thailand Open, where the Filipino bet bowed to the sixth-seeded German, 6-2, 6-2, in the first round.
Maria eventually went on to finish in the quarterfinals.
While Eala has been unsuccessful in her title bid so far this year, Maria boasts of ruling the Copa Colanitas in Bogota, Colombia early this month.
Eala hopes to make an impact in her second appearance in this tournament after also earning a wildcard entry but losing in her first qualifying match last year.
