Alex Eala in action during the Oeiras Ladies Open as part of her build-up for the 2025 French Open. – Federação Portuguesa de Ténis
Alex Eala is determined to improve her game this clay season as she gears up for her next slate of tournaments, following an early exit in the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal.
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In her first tournament since her dream run in the Miami Open and her rise to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) World No. 72, the 19-year-old Filipino fell to Hungary’s Panna Udvardy, 6(4)-7, 4-6, in the round of 16 on Thursday (Manila time).
Eala admitted she’s still adjusting to clay courts but stressed that it wasn’t an excuse, acknowledging that Udvardy “performed better in the tight moments.”
“I grew up on hardcourt, so it comes more natural to me. Maybe my game is a bit more suited to there, how to move. But not to say that it should change on clay. In the end, it’s a court. Of course, maybe the bounce is higher, it’s affected by the weather. But it can’t make it such a big deal,” Eala said in the post-match press conference.
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“It’s nothing to change my whole game over. I believe that I can do just as well on clay as I can on hard[court].”
“The court’s heavy for her, the court’s heavy for me. So maybe some certain aspects are advantages to certain game styles. But that’s not for me to say. I can’t say that it was a disadvantage or whatever. It’s just how the court was today. In the end, I don’t really care which court I play. This is the job,” she added.
Alex Eala during a singles match at Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal. –Photo from fptennis via Alex Eala Instagram
Eala opened her clay season by sweeping Anouk Koevermans of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-4, in a rain-delayed match.
Her doubles stint also ended in the round of 16, as she and Katie Volynets fell to fourth-seeded Americans Christina Rosca and Carmen Corley, 3-6, 4-6.
Still, the Rafa Nadal Academy product said she enjoyed the experience despite the early exit, expressing gratitude for the continued support of her and Philippine tennis since her Cinderella run in Miami, where she defeated three Grand Slam champions.
“I’m super happy. It’s tough conditions to watch here—cold, windy, and a lot of the time, raining. That affects the court as well. So for [fans] to still be here and support me despite that means a lot,” she said.
The Filipino tennis sensation will shift her focus to the WTA 1000 Madrid Open, which kicks off on April 21.
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“Super excited. Madrid—I always love going back there. And Rome will be my first time. So there’s so much to look forward to. My goals for this clay season, especially after Miami, are just to do better than last year, to improve my game on clay. It’s a shorter stretch compared to hard court, but I want to feel myself getting better and keeping the level,” she said.
