Eala to enter US Open in style

MANILA, Philippines —  Alex Eala is all set to embark on her quest for more milestones at the US Open in style.

As she brings her act to the season’s final Grand Slam in Flushing Meadows, Eala is poised to come rocking in a royal blue Nike kit.

The cool new outfit the WTA No. 20 Eala is sporting for the Aug. 30 to Sept 13 showpiece in New York was unveiled by Nike yesterday, quickly receiving raves from fans online.

The official uniforms feature a blue and white women’s dress colorway – like the Philippine national teams in basketball, football and volleyball.

It’s worth $140 or P8,600.

As tribute to her stellar rise, the renowned sneaker brand will also release a customized “Alex Eala” shirt with a flower design.

The shirt, priced at $42 (P2,600), is similar to Nike’s previous campaigns with Eala in the Wimbledon last year and this year, giving her a Sampaguita-inspired hair accessory and visor, respectively.

The brand – which also has the Filipina star’s portrait in its legendary gallery at the Nike World Headquarters in Oregon, USA – printed the Eala kits with Filipino words “Kung may itinanim, may aanihin” and “Kapag lumago, hindi na hihinto.”

And Eala has been embodying those roots so far with a solid run in the WTA Tour, which she hopes to carry over to her second US Open main draw stint.

Last year, Eala, then WTA No. 75, debuted in the US Open main draw and became the first Filipina match winner ever after a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(13-11) victoryover then No. 15 Clara Tauson of Denmark.

The 21-year-old Pinay went on to fold to then world No. 95 Cristina Bucsa of Spain in Round 2 but Eala is an entirely different player this time around.