MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala returned to Manila on Sunday for a short break before beginning her hardcourt campaign leading up to the US Open.
The 21-year-old arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 to a warm welcome after becoming the first Filipino to reach the Round of 16 in a Grand Slam singles tournament during Wimbledon.
Eala will meet fans on Wednesday at the Glorietta Activity Center in Makati before resuming competition.
She delivered the best Grand Slam performance of her career in London, highlighted by a third-round victory over defending champion Iga Swiatek of Poland before bowing to Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in three sets in the Round of 16.
The Wimbledon campaign marked Eala’s sixth Grand Slam main draw appearance and further boosted her standing on the WTA Tour.
Eala will begin her North American hardcourt swing at the Mubadala DC Open, a WTA 500 event scheduled from July 27 to Aug. 2 in Washington.
She will then compete in the Canadian Open in Toronto before taking part in the US Open Fan Week’s “Stars of the Open” activities.
Eala is set to make her second main draw appearance at the US Open after earning her first Grand Slam main draw victory there last year.