Alex Eala may have ended her Canadian Open campaign, but the Filipina tennis star is walking away from Toronto with plenty to be proud of.
The 21-year-old tennis sensation was ousted by Tokyo Olympics gold medalist and World No. 14 Belinda Bencic, 4-6, 0-6, in their Round of 16 match on August 10.
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Reflecting on the match, Alex acknowledged the challenge posed by the Swiss star, while choosing to look at the bigger picture after an impressive run in the Canadian Open.
“Tough one today. I think, Belinda put me in some really tough situations. I think she played really well. [I] wasn't able to kind of get myself out and you know out of a certain mood," she expressed. "So, overall really good week. I am super happy with the run that I've had and [I'm] going to try to recover and come back out hot.”
After weeks of intense competition, Alex also opened up about how she was feeling emotionally, physically, and mentally following her latest match.
She admitted that the immediate feeling after a loss is never easy, but she remains focused on the bigger picture and is grateful to have come through the past two weeks healthy.
“It's always tough, of course, after a loss, but like I said, I'm looking back at these past maybe two weeks as a really big positive. I think I've played really well. I've gotten through so many obstacles. Of course, right now, there's that initial kind of just a little tired and down from the match. But yeah, I'm healthy, which is something I'm super grateful for, something that's obviously on the top of my priority all the time. So, yeah, I'm counting my blessings. I'm taking the lessons that I have I've had from these two weeks and hopefully implementing them even more and in a better way in Cincinnati and New York,” she said.
Despite the defeat, Alex remained all smiles as she took in the support from the packed crowd that had followed her throughout her Toronto campaign.
For Alex, the Canadian Open became more than just another tournament. It became an experience she knows she will carry with her for years to come, saying, “I mean, of course, I knew it was the last time that I was going to be out on that court for a while. So, I mean, the atmosphere this whole week has been just incredible. It's hard to describe to other people kind of the feeling of being in that stadium full of, of course, the fans and all the love."
She continued: "I'm super grateful for the experiences that I've had here in Toronto. It's been an amazing debut. I'll carry these memories with me for a really long time.”
A huge part of Alex’s journey throughout the tournament was also the presence of her coach Joan Bosch, whom she credited for giving her the support and confidence she needs as she continues to develop as a player.
“I think he plays a big part in in my development as a player and I trust him a lot. I think we work great as a team alongside my other two coaches from the academy. I think it's really important to have someone who you know who you know backs you and believes in you. And I feel that from him and I feel like we have good energy [and] good relationship. We're able to be honest with each other. We're able to havean open line of communication and I've worked with him for a couple of years,” Alex shared.
“I admire Joan a lot and [I'm] grateful to have him on my team,” she added.
Beyond her team, Alex made sure to acknowledge the Filipinos who continues showing up for her.
From filling the stands with Philippine flags to creating an electric atmosphere inside stadiums, Filipino fans made sure Alex felt their presence throughout her historic run.
“Maraming salamat mga kababayan sa lahat ng ginawa niyo para sa akin ngayong linggo dito sa Toronto, sa Washington. At sa lahat ng ginagawa niyo para sa akin. Palagi kayong sumusuporta, palagi kayong nagdadasal, palagi kayong nagpupuyat kaya tuloy-tuloy akong magta-trabaho. Salamat,” she said.
Alex’s Canadian Open campaign comes just a week after she made history at the Mubadala DC Open, where she captured her first WTA singles title by defeating World No. 3 Jessica Pegula.
Her breakthrough victory also propelled her to a career-high World No. 20 ranking, making her the first Filipina to break into the WTA Top 20.
The Filipina star is set to head to the Cincinnati Open for another WTA 1000 tournament before the US Open.