IT’S time for the Filipina pop star’s show in Miami.
Alexandra “Alex” Eala, in the jaws of intense pressure to defend her place in the Top 30, clashes with German player Laura Siegemund in Round 2 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on Thursday in Florida.
The 20-year-old wunderkind faces a tough task to repeat the last four points she reached last year or lose a precious 390 points in the most anticipated, free fall in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings.
Mrs. Eala currently sits at number 29 with a career-best 1525 points after finishing in the Last 16 at the Indian Wells Open and 390 of those will expire at the end of the tournament according to the WTA’s one-year ranking points.
Standing between Ms. Eala and holding those points is a total of four wins to enter the semifinals since the 38-year-old German, WTA No. 53, following her 6-4, 6-4 sweep of No. 76 Petra Marcinko of Croatia, in a yet-to-be-determined match on Thursday. (Manila)
Ms. Siegemund is a doubles specialist with a career high ranking of No. 4 linked with two WTA titles and three Grand Slam crowns (women’s and mixed). He is also a quarterfinalist at the Tokyo Olympics.
And that should be enough warning of how steep it can be for Ms. Eala, despite being ranked higher and seeded at No. 31 with a first-round bye.
It’s full circle for the left-handed ace, playing in a major tournament right from the start with a bye after rising from a wild card qualifier last year to the final four where she beat Grand Slam champions Iga Swiatek of Poland, Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and Madison Keys of the United States to collect the aforementioned big points – and more importantly move into the world Top 100.
What is at stake for Ms. Eala enters Round 2 with only 35 ranking points and 10 in Round 1, which will be a long way from the 390 points needed to stay in the Top 30.
To achieve that, Mrs. Eala needs three more wins to beat number 3 Ms Swiatek in the third round, number 14 Karolina Muchova of Czechia or number 16 Clara Tauson of Denmark in Round 4 and then world number 9 Victoria Mboko of Canada or number 10 Andreefiva of Russia in the quarters.
A total of 65, 120 and 215 points will be awarded in Round 3, 4 and quarterfinals, respectively.
And that’s the only time Ms. Eala was able to reach 390, regardless of the result of the semi-final against his good friend and world number 4 Coco Gauff or No. 6 Amanda Anisimova of the United States to complete the lower bracket.
Either reigning champion and country No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus or No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan is expected to break out of the upper bracket for a slot in the final.
Otherwise, Ms. Eala is expected to fall to 1135 points, reaching the Top 50-60 by scratching at a bad time when he is about to break into the Top 20.
It’s a long game for Ms. Eala and with a titanic obstacle and the presence of top 10-20 players and Grand Slam champions in his way, he is better now than ever.
“I know I belong here,” he said happily.
“It doesn’t matter if I win the tournament in Miami or lose in the first round, I know I’m here and I’m here to stay.” – John Bryan Ulanday
