MANILA, December 27 ------ WTA World Number 148 Alex Eala is off to Australia and has her mind set to qualify for the first Grand Slam of the year, the Australian Open in Melbourne. Eala went through a very tough pre-season training with her new coach Alexandro “Sandro” Viaene from the Rafa Nadal Academy. Eala said she really pushed herself for the past few weeks to get ready for her 2025 season.
Her Rafa Nadal Academy coaches believe Alex is ready for the Australian open. "The pre-season of Alex was very good. We were practicing for two weeks, with double tennis session and double fitness session— double fitness session and double tennis session— So the days were long, but we were very productive and we are very happy," Coach Viaene said. "Well, of course, fitness-wise, there was a lot of things. I think a general improvement every year is the goal," Eala shared. "During pre-season when it comes to fitness, of course, being able to endure or to perform with the same intensity and power throughout every single month. That's the goal and I think every year we're working towards a better number. So I think I definitely feel that I improved," the Filipina tennis star added.
Alex and team Rafa Nadal are pleased with the progress of the 19-year-old athlete's progress in tennis and fitness levels. They achieved their goal in the pre-season with Alex feeling more confident going into this Grand Slam. She previously reached the final round of the qualifying of the French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. Eala now hopes to make it to her first Grand Slam main draw. "I feel more calm and more confident in the things that I've been doing. I think the past few years I was really thinking about it a lot because I had won a match in a Grand Slam. So now that I have a couple of matches in my pocket, the pressure is a bit more," Eala said.
The Australian Open qualifiers start on January 6. Before that Alex plays in a tournament in Canberra, Australia beginning December 29.
Source: news.abs-cbn.com
Comments