FILIPINO tennis ace Alexandra "Alex" Eala seeks a quarterfinals berth as she continues homestand at the inaugural Philippine Women's Open at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center Wednesday.
Eala faces either Nao Hibino or Himeno Sakatsume in the round of 16, likely the final match of the day set in the evening.
Hibino and Sakatsume were battling at press time Tuesday afternoon in an all-Japanese round of 32 match.
Eala made her home tournament debut Monday as she thrilled Filipino fans with a dominant 6-1, 6-2 win sweep of Russian Alina Charaeva.
The 20-year-old Eala was delighted to have finally played an official Women's Tennis Association (WTA) match at home.
"I think it really holds a special place in my heart," said Eala.
"It's my first ever professional match at home, and I was able to spend it around family and around supporters and surrounded with love. So it's very special."
While Eala gets to enjoy a home tournament, the pressure to win in front of her people is also there.
World No. 49 Eala embraces every bit of it.
"Yeah, I would say there's a bit of added pressure. That's the job. The job comes with pressure," said Eala.
"Like Billie Jean King says, pressure is a privilege. I'm learning how to live in my own ways and I'm happy with how I performed today."
Eala used a medical timeout heading to the second set of her match against Charaeva, nursing an apparent right leg injury which she said was nothing serious.
"There was a bit of discomfort and nothing serious. I have a day now to see how it goes. I'll just let it relax and wake up tomorrow and see how I feel," said Eala.
Meanwhile, five other Filipino netters were seeing action Tuesday.
Kaye Ann Emana was taking the court in a singles match, while the pairs of Elizabeth Abarquez and Rovie Baulete as well as Stefie Aludo and Tennielle Madis were playing in the doubles side.
Emana was faing Russian Tatiana Prozorova as Abarquez and Baulete were taking on the Japanese Chinese tandem of Hiroko Kuwata and Qiu Yu Ye.
Aludo and Madis were battling the Japanese duo of Mana Ayukawa and Kanako Morisaki.