Tennis sensation Eala not taking it easy in Thailand

After a spectacular breakthrough year, rising tennis star Alexandra Eala is primed to make waves on the sport’s biggest stage.

- David Lee Senior Sports Correspondent

But the 20-year-old has no qualms committing to the relative tennis backwater of the SEA Games, despite having made history on the world arena.

She stormed into the final of the women’s singles event on Dec 16 with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Thai Thasaporn Naklo and set up a decider against another Thai, Mananchaya Sawangkaew, who won her last-four clash after Indonesia’s 54th-ranked Janice Tjen retired while trailing 4-6.

She is also in the mixed doubles semifinals, after picking up a women’s team bronze on Dec 13.

After teaming up with Francis Alcantara to beat Singapore’s Daniel Abadia and Deanne Choo 6-4, 6-3 in the mixed doubles quarterfinals at the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi on Dec 15, Eala told The Straits Times she disagreed with the sentiment that the regional Games are inferior to events on the WTA Tour.

Eala, who has bronzes in the same events from Hanoi in 2022, said: “I feel the level is very high, very competitive. Being from a Southeast Asian country, the SEA Games is something a lot of people look forward to and are excited to compete in.

“Playing with the team for your country is always a very special experience and that’s why I’m here.”