Eala looks to bounce back from early PWO exit, competes in Abu Dhabi Open

Sports

AFTER falling short in the inaugural Philippine Women’s Open, Filipina tennis star Alex Eala tries to get back on track when she competes in the WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open.

The tournament, which will feature elite participants, will be held from Feb. 1 -7 at the International Tennis Center in United Arab Emirates.

Ranked No. 49 in the world–a career-high, Eala earned a wildcard berth in the main draw, along with Indonesian Janice Tjen.

Other Southeast Asian players seeing action in the stacked tournament are Lanlana Tararudee and Mananchaya Sawangkaew.

The main draw will also have four major titlists in Elena Rybakina, Jelena Ostapenko, Sofia Kenin, Barbora Krejcikova, and defending champion Belinda Bencic.

Hobbled by an elbow injury that kept her from the Australian Open, Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen is also making her return in Abu Dhabi.

Eala couldn’t make a deep run in the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open as she bowed to o Colombian Camila Osorio in their quarterfinal match, 4-6, 4-6.

By competing in the Abu Dhabi tournament, Eala will have her fourth WTA Tour stint this year. She previously played in the WTA 250 ASBC Cup in New Zealand and the Australian Open before strutting her wares in front of her countrymen in the Philippine Women’s Open.(CCM)