Rain halts Alex Eala’s opener in Portugal after strong start

Dubai: Filipino sensation Alex Eala’s opening match against Anouk Koevermans was postponed midway through the second set at the WTA125 Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal on Monday.

The top seed took the first set 6-3 but trailed the world No 182 Dutchwoman 2-4 in the second set when play was halted due to multiple rain interruptions on the clay courts of Centro Desportivo Nacional do Jamor.

The teenager is scheduled to resume her battle today in the 32-player event, which carries a prize pot of $168,100.

Eala entered the tournament brimming with confidence after achieving a career-high WTA ranking of No 73, becoming the first Filipina to break into the top 100 following a historic run at the Miami Open.

Competing as a wild card, Eala stunned the tennis world by defeating three Grand Slam champions — former French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko, reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys, and world No 2 Iga Swiatek — on her way to the semi-finals, where she lost to world No 4 Jessica Pegula in a thrilling contest.

Her previous best ranking was No 134 after a semi-final finish at the Workday Canberra International in Australia. Eala began her professional career in 2020, ranked No 1180, after reaching as high as No 2 in the world junior rankings.

“I’m proud of myself for pushing through those tough moments, as well as to have been able to make a statement for the Philippines in one of the biggest stages of tennis,” Eala said in a social media post.

A rising star from the Rafa Nadal Academy, Eala recently opened up about the emotional and logistical hurdles she faces due to visa restrictions tied to her Philippine passport.

She highlighted the difficulty of maintaining a flexible schedule — a crucial aspect of professional tennis — when visa applications are a constant obstacle.

“It takes so much time. For me, I find challenging the visas, being able to plan,” she said.

Despite the off-court struggles, Eala continues to captivate fans with her performances, who will be hoping she can complete the job in Portugal and lift the trophy.