ALEX Eala has so far spent seven years of her life learning all the tricks, nuances and subtleties of playing tennis at the highest level under the guidance of a team of instructors at the Rafa Nadal Academy.
Rafael Nadal set up the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2016 to give young and promising talent the right training and direction. One of those who answered his call was the 19-year-old Eala, who left everything in the Philippines at age 13, and joined the academy because she believed it provided her the perfect environment to achieve her dream.
READ Alex Eala shocks World No. 2 Iga Swiatek to make Miami Open semis
She was not mistaken.
In a span of less than a week, Eala, who plays left handed, shocked the tennis world by beating three Grand Slam champions, including one of the world's best, Iga Swiatek, to reach the semifinals of the WTA 1000 Miami Open.
In the biggest match of her career so far, Eala, 19, had somehow acquired Nadal's powerful signature forehand, his tenacity and his will to win which the Spanish legend used effectively to bludgeon his rivals and which the Filipino ace is now employing.
With Rafa's uncle and tennis coach Toni, also the academy's director, in attendance in Eala's box, there was one notable detail Eala brought into her 6-2, 7-5 upset win over world No. 2 Iga Swiatek in the Miami Open quarterfinals.
It was one that a then 17-year-old and 34th-ranked Rafael Nadal just happened to have when he pulled off the greatest upset of his young career 21 years ago against then world No. 1 Roger Federer — also in Miami.
So scarlet, it was maroon
Knowingly or maybe, unknowingly, Eala donned the same identical gear Nadal wore before facing their greatest opponents: maroon shirts, white headwear and racquets with shades of black and white.
Nadal had been a pro for four years when he came face-to-face with Federer, then the world No. 1. No one thought he would have a chance as he was facing a two-time Grand Slam winner, who was also happens to be his idol.
Then the unexpected happened. Nadal brought down Federer and, interestingly, it happened in the third round of the Miami Open on Mar. 23, 2004. And just like Eala’s win over Swiatek, Nadal beat the Swiss icon in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3.
It would be the first of 40 matches over a 15-year period between two of the greatest players to have ever played the sport. Nadal won 24 of those 40 meetings, with the pair sharing 42 Grand Slam wins.
Eala, meanwhile, became the first wildcard to reach the Miami Open semifinals in the competition’s 40-year history at the expense of three former Grand Slam winners.
While Nadal lost to Chilean ace Fernando González in the succeeding round after beating Federer, Eala hopes her story will have a different outcome than her mentor. Her aim, and the country's hope, is that she will go all the way and win her first WTA title.
There are two more players to hurdle. One is world No. 4 Jessica Pegula, who she will meet in the semifinals on Friday (Manila time). If she suceeds, it could either be world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka or Jasmine Paolini, the Italian world. No. 7, who will clash in the other semifinal.
So there's no easy path for Eala in the next few days. But after dispatching three world-class players, it's probably her next opponents who will be trembling at the thought of facing her.
Get more of the latest sports news & updates on SPIN.ph
NOTICE ON UNAUTHORIZED AND UNLAWFUL USE, PUBLICATION, AND/OR DISSEMINATION OF SPIN.PH CONTENT: Please be notified that any unauthorized and unlawful use, publication, and/or dissemination of Spin.ph’s content and/or materials is a direct violation of its legal and exclusive rights to the same, and shall be subject to appropriate legal action/s.
