Nadal lauds Pinay netter for breakthrough pro title
CEBU, Philippines — Spanish tennis superstar Rafael Nadal tipped his hat off Filipina netter Alex Eala for topping the women’s singles event of the W15 Manacor ITF Pro Tournament by the Rafa Nadal Academy late Sunday night in Mallorca, Spain.
“Congratulations @alex.eala for this important moment in your career. We are all very happy for you!” Nadal told Eala in a report by Philstar.com.
The 15-year-old Eala courageously fought back from an opening set drawback to subdue Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers in the finals, 5-7, 6-1, 6-2, for her first ITF crown in her budding pro career.
It was a rousing year-starter for Eala after a stellar 2020 season where she came up with a semifinal finish at the French Open Junior Tennis Championships and nailed a landmark Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open girls doubles with Indonesian partner Priska Madelyn Nugroho.
The ITF ranked No.2 junior player Eala made a remarkable improvement in her racquet-wielding skills as a scholar at the Rafa Nadal Academy under the guidance of coach Daniel Gómez.
Along with his congratulatory message, Nadal egged on Eala to strive even harder to get her pro career going.
“Keep up the good work and attitude,” Nadal said. — EBV
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