IT'S hard to know what is on Alex Eala's mind as she takes on Linda Fruhvirtova in her opening singles match on Tuesday night at the Birmingham Open, a WTA 125 event which is several rungs lower than the French Open, which is a major.
But surely, her thoughts are probably to win this match at all cost to stop the bleeding that has marred her recent outings where she has racked up one loss after another.
READ Eala, Masarova lose to second seeds in Birmingham Open doubles
She should be the favorite against Fruhvirtova, ranked 152 against her 73. Eala is also the third seed in the tournament.
But rankings hardly matter these days, especially for Eala who has lost to players below her in the rankings, the last one against Columbia's Emiliana Arango in the French Open.
Also going for Eala is the fact that her opponent has not played a singles match in three weeks and could be rusty, last seeing action in early May where she bowed out in the qualifiers of a tournament, losing to Louisa Chirico, 1-6, 4-6.
On the other hand, Eala is match tough, having played a doubles match on Monday in this tournament, although it was another loss, and had seen action in the French Open a few days ago, in both singles and doubles.
Also, the grass surface should favor Eala, who likes fast and sleek courts. Her rival's favorite is clay.
Though this is their first meeting on the professional tour, the two 20-year-olds are familiar foes from their junior days.
Eala and Fruhvirtova split their previous encounters — Eala won in the 2019 ITF Cape Town tournament, while Fruhvirtova got the better of the Filipina at the J1 Roehampton event in July 2021.
With their junior rivalry tied at 1-1, Tuesday’s match adds a new chapter to their budding competitive history — now on the WTA stage.
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