With Filipinos behind her, Alex Eala begins French Open bid

FILE – Alex Eala knows exactly what she wants for dinner after becoming a Grand Slam champion in
the girls’ doubles tournament. —MIKE EALA/CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—Teen tennis star Alex Eala will be bringing a country’s support as she goes into her first match of the 2020 French Open.

Seeded at no.2 in the tournament, Eala took to Facebook to thank the support she’s been getting heading into her second Grand Slam tournament of the year.

“Thank you for your messages! The draws are out and I play fourth match on Court 4, any time between 8-11pm (Sunday Manila time),” wrote Eala. “I think I’m the only Asian in the draw.”

“Laban! Vamos! Alléz!”

Eala, who’s the no.4-ranked player in the world rankings, will take on Hungary’s Natalia Szabanin.

She won the title in the 2020 Australian Open girls’ doubles competition and is also a scholar of the Rafa Nadal Academy.