Filipina tennis star Alex Eala heads to Brazil after US Open debut

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is headed to Sao Paulo after her US Open debut. A recent social media post from the Rafa Nadal Academy featured photos of Eala and other professional players, all of whom have been practicing in Mallorca for the last Grand Slam of the year.

The tournament, a WTA 250 event running until September 14, marks the first time a women’s tour event has been held in São Paulo since 2000. It’s a chance for Eala to jump back into competition, something she hasn’t done much of recently after an uneven summer.

For now, she'll have to shake off the effects from a nagging left shoulder injury that cut her summer short. She required a medical timeout during her Montreal opener against Marketa Vondrousova and later pulled out of tournaments in Cincinnati and Monterrey. The missed events left her short of matches heading into her first US Open main draw.

Even with her recent ranking dip to No 68, Eala remains focused on steady progress rather than numbers. “There’s no pressure on me,” she said recently. “I’m focusing on enjoying the experience and growing every week.”

Eala is listed in a 32-player field that includes Hailey Baptiste, a familiar American opponent she defeated at Eastbourne back in June. A potential rematch could be an early test. A good run in Brazil could be just what Eala needs to regain her momentum and finish the year on a strong note.