After three days of competition in the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open, Alex Eala is the only Filipina left standing.
On Wednesday, Eala exacted revenge on Sakatsume Himeno, defeating her 6-4, 6-0 to advance to the quarterfinals of the WTA 125 tournament at the Felicisimo Ampon Tennis Center in Manila.
However, the rest of the Philippine contingent struggled in both the singles and doubles competitions.
(C) PHILTA
UAAP stars Kaye Emana of the University of Santo Tomas and Elizabeth Abarquez of National University fell in the first round to Tatiana Prozorova (6-1, 6-0) and Mai Hontama (6-0, 6-0), respectively.
Meanwhile, 18-year-old Tennielle Madis put up a gallant fight against Mananchaya Sawangkaew but ultimately fell 6-4, 6-0.
In doubles, the NU pair of Abarquez and Rovie Baulete; the UST duo of Emana and Justine Maneja; Angeline Alcala of De La Salle University and Joanna Peña of the University of the Philippines; and the young team of Madis and Steffi Aludo all bowed out in the first round.
Eala, the face of Philippine tennis, expressed pride in seeing her compatriots compete at a high level, viewing this as an important first step in their young careers.
(C) Philippine Women’s Open
“I’m super proud. The fact that we’re in the draw, they showed up, they gave their best. It’s really hard the first time competing at this level,” said Eala, the 20-year-old Filipina ranked 49th in the world.
“But just the experience that you gain from being in these tournaments and playing these people is something money can’t buy. So I’m very happy for that, very proud of our united experience.”
Looking ahead, Eala hopes to see her fellow Filipinas competing on the circuit alongside her. She doesn’t want to see them trying to become the next Eala, but rather to grow alongside her.
“My message is always not to try to be like me, or not to try to be the next me, but to try to be the first you. I think it’s very important to find your own path,” she said.
“You can take inspiration from anywhere and anyone you want, but just be yourself and go for what you believe in.”
