Alex Eala returns to clay for French Open main draw

Still on a high after a historic run at the Miami Open, Alex Eala immediately buckles down to business as she sets sights on the French Open later this month.

The 19-year-old Filipina tennis star said she has kicked off her clay training to gear up for the 2025 French Open, where she is expected to make her first-ever main draw appearance in the professional ranks.

But Eala shared she has not seen action on a clay surface for a year now, having competed mostly on hard and grass courts in the past few months.

Still, the world no. 73 said her confidence is high after a momentous run a few days ago at the Miami Open, where she reached the semifinals by beating a number of top 10 players, including Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys.

"The confidence is there. I think the shots are really high in quality after the week I just had. I haven’t been on clay in roughly a year so it’s been a while since I’ve stepped on the clay but that's really how it goes," Eala said in a press conference with Filipino media on Tuesday.

"I’m just trying to adjust my game, feel around the court, and feel comfortable with the clay."

As a junior player, Eala has seen her share of success on clay.

Back in 2021, Eala teamed up with Russian partner Oksana Selekhmeteva to rule the Roland-Garros girls doubles contest against Amarissa Toth and Hungary’s Maria Bondarenko and scoop her second grand slam title.

Before that, Eala also ruled the junior doubles in the 2020 Australian Open with partner Priska Nugroho of Indonesia.

She then reigned supreme in the 2022 US Open junior girls singles, beating Czech Republic's Lucie Havlickova in the finals, to capture her first grand slam singles crown.

"I’m excited for the Grand Slams ahead, Roland-Garros. I know that I will be in the main draw so I’m very excited about that," she added.

"It’s my first time to be in the main draw so it’s a new experience and everything to gain.”

The French Open is tipped to kick off on May 25 to June 8 with the likes of world no. 1 Aryna Sabalenka and other top players in Swiatek, Coco Gauff, and Keys expected to see action as well.

—JMB, GMA Integrated News