Busy Eala could help PH rebound from shutout

Philippine tennis hotshot Alex Eala just might earn a spot in the national team when the country hosts the Southeast Asian Games later this year.

National head coach Chris Cuarto said the 13-year-old Eala “is one of the prospects” as the Philippine Tennis Association begins forming the national squad.

Eala is currently ranked 113th among the world’s juniors—her highest since being unranked when she saw action in the qualifying round of the French Open last year.

Eala had already played the maximum 10 tournaments for 13-year-olds—winning two singles titles.

She will have to wait until she turns 14 on May 23 to be eligible to play again in ITF-sanctioned meets. ITF outs tournament limits on junior players depending on their age.

Those limits are lifted once a player turns 16.

Eala will see action in the Junior Fed Cup prequalifying rounds Asia-Oceania on March 4 to 10 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

She will also join the Word Juniors Tennis Championships (14-under) final qualifying rounds for Asia-Oceania on April 8 to 14.

The Philippines was shut out in the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, earning just two silvers and two bronzes.