‘Better, well-rounded’ Eala tries to slay ghost of Miami past
MANILA, Philippines — As chef Thomas Keller said in the television series The Bear, one should just try to do a little better than the day before.
In life, and even more in sports, chasing improvements consistently will give you a shot to be the best you can be.
About a year and a half since their first matchup, Alex Eala said she is a much-improved tennister as she aims not only to exorcise the ghost of the past, but bring home her first-ever WTA 500 title in the Mubadala DC Open against Jessica Pegula.
It was Pegula who ended the magical, historic run of Eala in the Miami Open in March last year. Now, it is the American who stands in the Filipina’s way to a championship in the WTA 500 level.
Eala, in an interview with the Tennis Channel after her semifinal win over former World No. 1 Naomi Osaka early Sunday morning (Manila time), said she believes she has improved in her since their first matchup.
“I think I would say if I compare myself now to then, I'm more well-rounded. I think I'm physically a little better. I've improved on a couple of my strokes,” she said in the interview.
She said that her forehand strokes, as well as her service game, have improved.
“But I would say that everything, all the aspects have kind of improved at the same pace,” she said.
Since the Miami Open run, Eala has seen doors open greatly. She has since played in numerous Grand Slam tournaments.
In this year’s Wimbledon, she reached the fourth round of the tournament, but she fell against Jasmine Paolini.
In Washington, Eala has defeated several big names. She has defeated Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez, Olympic bronze medalist and multi-time WTA champion Elina Svitolina and four-time Grand Slam champion Osaka.
Still, Eala stressed that it is not only her that has evolved.
“Then again, each player is always evolving. Improvement is not a linear thing. So every match is different,” she said.
“And I'm sure Jess has also changed so much in these 18 months, like you said. So it's gonna be great.”
Eala and Pegula will face off in the championship on Monday midnight (Manila time).
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