Alex Eala braces for US Open debut in New York

FILIPINO tennis hotshot Alex Eala arrived in New York City on Thursday (Manila time) to prepare for her debut in the US Open main draw.

On her Instagram page, she is seen with the city’s skyline, with the simple caption reading “New York, New York.”

Because of missing two tournaments in August because of a shoulder injury, Eala’s Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ranking dropped to 70th, as of Aug. 18.

Alex Eala AFP FILE PHOTO

At the live rankings, she is expected to slip to 73rd, due to the long tournament break that saw her miss the Cincinnati Open and the Abierto GNP Seguros Monterrey Open in Mexico due to the injury.

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She earlier achieved a career high of 56th back in July, following successful stints at the Miami Open that saw her upset higher-seeded opponents and at the Eastbourne Open, where she made the finals.

Filipino Canadian star Leylah Fernandez is also expected to take part in the US Open.

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While qualifying rounds are already underway in the US Open, Eala is expected to be in the main draw, which starts on Sunday, with world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka as the defending champion.

It will also mark Eala’s first hard surface tournament for this year’s season.

As of press time, Eala’s first opponent in the US Open is yet to be revealed.

The US Open will be held from Aug. 24 to Sept. 7 at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens, New York.

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