Lady Tams look to keep romp in SSL pre-season meet

Newly crowned champion Far Eastern U wants no let-up in its preparation for the coming UAAP season even after dominating the Batangas leg of the 2025 Shakey's Super League (SSL) National Invitationals.

- By JOHN BRYAN ULANDAY

Alex Eala will play in the Guadalajara Open in Mexico first before trooping to Brazil for the Sao Paulo Open in the resumption of her campaign after a historic US Open second-round stint.

Eala, ranked No. 70 in the live WTA rankings, is seeded second in the Mexican WTA 125-level tourney slated until Sept. 6 ahead of her Brazil stint on Sept. 8 to 14.

The 20-year-old Filipina ace has drawn No. 187 Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands in Round 1 tomorrow, looming as the heavy favorite due to higher ranking and 3-0 head-to-head advantage.

Eala will march in Guadalajara with extra motivation after a historic stint in the US Open, where she became the first Filipina winner in any tennis major main draw.

Unseeded and coming off a shoulder injury, Eala pulled off a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (13-11) stunner of world No. 15 and 14th-seeded Clara Tauson of Denmark before bowing to Cristina Bucsa of Spain, 6-4, 6-3, in the Round of 64.

Now, Eala sets her sights on improving her WTA rankings and hopefully winning her first pro title this year.