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Australian Open juniors doubles champion Alex Eala is back in Manila
Newly minted tennis champion Alex Eala is now back in the Philippines for a short break after winning the Australian Open junior girl's doubles title on Friday.
Eala and her Indonesian partner Priska Madelyn Nugroho, dominated Slovenia's Ziva Falkner and the United Kingdom's Matilda Mutavdzic in the final to become the first ever Filipino to win a tennis Grand Slam title.
According to Chino Trinidad's report for "24 Oras," the teen sensation will be in the country for two days before heading back to the Rafael Nadal Tennis Academy in Spain.
"It's still a big shock and you know, I think these past few days I've been trying to like sink it in," she said about her win. "But I'm very happy and really excited for this win. It definitely means a lot to me and I hope it means a lot to all the Filipinos too."
Ranked no. 8 in the world among junior players, Eala's success raises hopes that the Philippines can one day produce its own Grand Slam champion at the professional level.
"'Yung exposure and then the competition she has gotten even in the practice with the other people pati sa pro, kasi nakakapalo din 'yung ibang pros, parang it gives her confidence na oy, kaya pala," said her father Michael.
Eala herself is quick to temper expectations, but vows to give her all in competition.
"I really can't promise anything. But I know that I will work hard and I will do my best to put out more results and you know just to improve my game overall," she said. "And I hope what I do inspires other people also to follow their dreams." —MGP, GMA News
