Alex Eala’s long-awaited debut in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games proved well worth it, as she picked up two victories in different events on Monday at the National Tennis Development Centre in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Seeded No. 1 in the women’s singles, world No. 52 Eala received an opening-round bye and entered the tournament fresh against Malaysia’s Shihomi Li Xuan Leong.
Leong had opened her campaign with a dominant 6-0, 6-0 win over Laos’ Aliya Vongdala on Saturday.
However, the 18-year-old Malaysian quickly found herself outmatched against a world-class opponent. The top-seeded Filipina dispatched Leong with ease, 6-3, 6-1.
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The Rafa Nadal Academy alumna eased into the match in the opening set, using it to shake off some rust after a period away from competitive tennis.
She then asserted her class in the second set, closing out the contest in under an hour.
Eala was pleased with her first outing, which drew a sizeable crowd.
“I am very happy with the first round. It presented good challenges. Masaya ako sa crowd. Maraming nanood,” she expressed.
The 20-year-old later returned to the court in the afternoon, teaming up with the Philippines’ top male doubles player, Francis Casey Alcantara.
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Seeded second in the mixed doubles, the Filipino duo defeated Singapore’s Adelo Abadia and Wei Choo, 6-4, 6-3. Abadia is the son of former Philippine national tennis team stalwart Adelo Abadia.
The challenge stiffens for Eala as she advances to the singles semifinals, where she will face Thai standout Thasaporn Naklo.
A former Iowa State Cyclones player now competing in the US NCAA Division I circuit, Naklo is ranked No. 509 in the WTA. She pulled off an upset over fourth seed and world No. 324 Priska Nugroho of Indonesia in the opening round.
During her maiden SEA Games appearance in Vietnam in 2022 — just days before turning 17 — Eala claimed bronze medals in women’s singles, mixed doubles with Treat Huey, and the women’s team event.
This time, she aims to surpass that showing by reaching the finals of both the singles and mixed doubles in Bangkok, giving herself a chance to contend for gold.
