Eala faces Wang on hopes of snapping second-round dry spell in clay court

ALEXANDRA “ALEX” EALA faces Xinyu Wang of China with hopes of finally hurdling a second-round dry spell in the Internazionali BNL D’Italia (Italian Open) at the Foro Italico Sports Complex in Rome.

The 20-year-old Filipina had not gotten past the second round in her three previous clay tournaments, taking a crack at it once again on Friday as she enters the final buildup for the French Open later this month.

“Sometimes, one match can change a lot, especially for me in clay that’s not my strongest surface so every match is really a battle,” said the WTA No. 42 Ms. Eala after a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 win over Poland’s Magdalena Frech in the Round of 128.

“This is my first season that I have played in many high-level clay tournaments. I’m trying to find my footing and I know I can do well. I’m a better player physically and mentally than I was last year.”

That preparation will be tested in the Round of 64 against Ms. Wang, who gained a first-round bye as WTA No. 33 and No. 31 seed in the 1000-level Italian tour.

But more than a bid to finally reach the third round of a clay tilt, Ms. Eala has some unfinished business to settle against the 24-year-old Chinese, who denied her a finals appearance in the WTA 250 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand with a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 semis comeback triumph.

Ms. Eala earned a shot at Ms. Wang after recovering just in the nick of time against the WTA No. 45 Ms. Frech.

She scored a bagel in the first but failed to finish off the seasoned Pole in the second before breaking away from a 3-all tie in the rubber for the win in two hours and seven minutes.

Before Rome, Ms. Eala exited the Upper Austria Ladies Linz Open in Austria (second round), the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart, Germany (first round) and the Mutua Madrid Open (second round).

She will have two more clay campaigns in the qualifiers of the WTA 500 Internationaux de Strasbourg Open on May 17 to 23 in France and in the main draw of WTA 125 Parma Ladies Open in Rome’s neighboring city on May 12 to 17 before the Roland Garros in Paris on May 24 to June 7.

But first things first for the Pinay tennis pride and that’s to smash a deep campaign in Rome.

“I’m happy in this match and hopefully, the things that we’re working on with my team will reflect soon. Everybody is really good at this level and anything can happen. That’s the beauty of tennis,” she beamed. — John Bryan Ulanday