Eala braces for tough National Bank Open

FOLLOWING a three-week rest since her first-round elimination at Wimbledon, Filipino tennis hotshot Alex Eala returns to action at the National Bank Open set from July 26 to Aug. 7 in Montreal, Canada.

No official draws yet, but Eala could face familiar foes, especially if she advances to the deeper rounds of the tournament, which is still holding its qualifying stages.

On the entry list are World No. 3 Iga Swiatek, No. 4 Jessica Pegula, No. 8 Madison Keys and World No. 25 Jelena Ostapenko.

The 20-year-old Eala faced Polish Swiatek, who ruled Wimbledon two weeks ago, twice already.

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As a wildcard entry at the Miami Open last March, Eala stunned Swiatek, 6-2, 7-5, in the quarterfinals.

Swiatek got back at Eala at the Madrid Open last April, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the round of 64.

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Meanwhile, the American Pegula beat Eala at the Miami Open semifinals, 7-6(3), 5-7, 3-6, as she ended Eala’s historic run in the tournament.

Eala started to make noise in Miami when she beat Ostapenko in the round of 64, 7-6(2), 7-5, and then Keys in the round of 32, 6-4, 6-2.

Eala repeated over Ostapenko at the Eastbourne Open round of 16, 6-0, 2-6, 3-2, as the latter retired due to an injury.

The 5-foot-9 Eala went on to reach the final of the tournament where she bowed to Aussie Maya Joint, but made history anyway as the first Filipino to reach the championship round of a Women’s Tennis Association tournament.

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