Alex Eala treasures the Juniors French Open campaign

Alex Eala is eager to get back to work after an unforgettable season at the Juniors French Open that made her the first Filipina to reach a Grand Slam singles semi-final.

Now back at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca, Spain, Eala carries memories and lessons that could help develop her craft.

“I learned a lot about my game and what I need to improve,” PH Bet, 15, said at a virtual press conference Sunday night.

“I saw the differences between the pros and the juniors, like most of the Grand Slams I go to and I think now I have a clear picture of what I need to work on.”

Eala fell short in her bid for a second Grand Slam title after losing to local bettor Elsa Jacquemot, who ultimately took the women’s singles title against Russia’s Alina Charaeva.

Eala said she treasured the match despite the loss.

“Going to the game, I was focused on what to do. But she has a lot of experience on the women’s tour. Still, I’m happy with the way I struggled. It was really a good game… a lot of things to take away from, ”he said.

Eala hopes that her achievement in tennis will give her country prominence on the international sports scene.

“I think a lot of people underestimate Filipinos when it comes to sports and especially tennis, so being able to shed some light on the reputation of the Philippines is really an honor,” he said.

Eala said her coaches plan to balance her women’s and youth competitions in the future, joining her to more $ 15,000 women’s tournaments despite her age.

“My coaches are still planning which tournaments I can join, but I want to compete more at the top level,” he said.