Mamiit says Alex is destined

MANILA, Philippines —  Six-time SEA Games gold medalist and former Philippine Davis Cupper Cecil Mamiit said yesterday there’s no stopping Alex Eala’s rise and sky’s the limit for the 20-year-old wunderkind despite her recent 6-0, 6-2 loss to Karolina Muchova in the fourth round of the Miami Open.

Mamiit, who runs a tennis academy in Los Angeles, said Eala’s on the right path. “I’m not surprised she’s gone this far,” said Mamiit, who was once Maria Sharapova’s hitting partner. “Alex is destined. She’s young and it’s just a matter of getting the pieces together. With her team and family, she’s in a position to get even better. She has the willingness to fight. She’s strong mentally and it’s a blessing that her parents are around to support her. Everywhere she goes, fans come out to cheer her, especially the Filipino community, and it’s something special.”

Mamiit, 49, said Eala’s forehand is one of her strong points. “She’s left-handed and being a lefty has its advantages with the movement of the ball,” he noted. “There are lots of factors to consider in staying on track-scheduling, physicality, fitness, speed, force. Her serve is coming along, a work in progress and it’s gotten better, stronger.”

Against Muchova, Mamiit said Eala’s wasn’t at her best. “Alex never got her rhythm,” he said. “Muchova took the ball early and put pressure on Alex so she had difficulty setting up and executing. Muchova’s balls were heavier and she went fast on Alex who wasn’t as accurate as in her previous matches.” Eala took three hours and 20 minutes to dispose of Laura Siegemund and one hour and 48 minutes to crack Magda Linette before facing Muchova. The grind had to take a toll. Eala never broke Muchova and only one game went to deuce, twice on her serve in the third of the second set. Eala was broken in five games and held serve only twice in the one-hour match.