Eala more confident as seeded player in US Open

MANILA, Philippines — What a difference a year makes.

Following her historic US Open last year, Eala is back in the Grand Slam tournament — and this time, under different circumstances. 

Last year, Eala became the first Filipina to reach the second round of a Grand Slam. She defeated then-14th seed Clara Tauson to barge into the second round, where she got booted out by Cristina Bucsa. 

This year, the Filipina sensation reached the second round anew after beating Mary Stoiana, 6-1, 6-2, Wednesday morning (Manila time). 

Now, the 17th-seeded pride of the Philippines will take on Oleksandra Oliynykova in the next round. 

Following her win against Stoiana, Eala said that coming in as a seeded player in a Grand Slam this time is really different. 

“It felt different, definitely. But not to say that one was more challenging than the other. It's just different circumstances,” Eala told reporters after her win over Stoiana.

“It was my first time playing on one of the main stadiums here at the US Open, and it was very loud — especially when the roof is closed. So that's something that adds to the atmosphere, but it's also something you have to navigate,” she added. 

Eala and Stoiana played at the jam-packed Louis Armstrong Stadium.

Eala stressed that being a seeded player gives a confidence boost.

“And yeah, of course, coming in as a seeded player and having done pretty well this American swing brings a different vibe. Of course, you're a little more confident and there are a little more expectations, but I think I've been handling it.”

Still, the 21-year-old Filipina said there are surely nerves, but she has been “tuning it out.” 

“I've had experience with big crowds, especially in the past year, and I think I've been navigating quite well within myself to keep the focus on what I need to pay attention to — points A, B and C,” she said. 

“In the end, when you get into the groove and into the rhythm, we play tennis. A match is a match, whether there are so many people or none. I think once the players get into that groove, the effect of external factors lessens a little bit.” 

Now, Eala aims to have a much-deeper run in the tournament.

“What I want from this tournament is to have more matches with the level that I see I can produce and that I've been producing these past couple of weeks,” she stated. 

“I think I've prepared quite well leading up to it. My team has put in the work and I've put in the work. Today was a good first match. I was able to execute a lot of the points, be aggressive and play my game. So, you know, continuing that trajectory.”