Eala’s bid on, fans left off

NAGOYA – Rain stole Alex Eala’s Center Court debut.

Showers forced the Filipino top seed’s Asian Games opener to be shunted from Center Court to Show Court, and finally to the cramped Indoor Court C at Higashiyama Park.

Pinoys who flew in from Manila and elsewhere were left drenched and locked out. The covered center – four practice courts tucked inside – has no more than two rows of gallery seats. Officials only. No room for fans. No room for media mixed zone.

It was also a logistical nightmare for Cignal, which had to hurriedly pull out and reposition its three-camera setup from one court to the other just to keep the match on air.

What the fans missed here was clinical.

World No. 18 Eala, fresh off a bye as the No. 1 seed, crushed Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej (World No. 505), 6-1, 6-0 in the Round of 16, after a five-hour delay.

Eala jumped to 4-0, dropped one game on a forehand error, then reeled off the next eight straight – closing it with a booming ace and a second-set bagel.

The fans’ consolation: news that Eala is through to the quarterfinals. The question is will they get to see her match today.

Eala returns for the quarterfinals against Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland (World No. 142), winner over Iran’s Mandegar Farzami. She’s also pairing with Shaira Rivera against Hong Kong’s Lai Ching Laam and Liu Kallista in women’s doubles Round 1.

Wish from everyone at Higashiyama Park today: Rain, rain, go away – come back after the Asiad.