FILE – Alex Eala of the Philippines trains during the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 24, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Matthew Stockman/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by MATTHEW STOCKMAN / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
MANILA, Philippines—Alex Eala is trying to get the feel of the competition and the weather in the region ahead of the Southeast Asian Games next month. And the Philippines’ brightest hope is getting the hang of it, so far.
The 16-year-old Eala barged into the finals of the W25 Chiang Rai in Thailand against an older, more experienced hometown bet Luksika Kumkhum on Sunday.
It is expected to be a preview of the SEA Games singles competitions as KumKhum is likely to represent her country in the Games in Hanoi. The 28-year-old Thai, ranked 66th in the world, won women’s singles in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur edition.
Eala is seeing action in the biennial meet for the first time and her stint took a major part in her training regimen at Rafael Nadal Academy.
Making a detour from her European and American tour, Eala blazed through the main draw of the hard courts tournament beating China’s Ma Ye-Xin, 6-3, 6-4, in Saturday’s semifinals.
She also drubbed Japan’s Momoko Kobori (6-3, 6-3) in the quarterfinals and Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej (6-3, 6-4) in the second round. Her most difficult match so far was her 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Serbia’s Katarina Kozarov in the opening round.
But it’s going to be a different level going up against KumKhum who has been playing in the Grand Slams since 2013 and finishing a career-best third round in the 2018 Australian Open.
KumKhum, an Asian Games gold medalist in women’s doubles, marched to the finals after a 6-4, 6-4 triumph over Erika Sema of Japan in the other semis.