Alex Eala said she was proud of her performance July 28 after rallying past China’s Zheng Qinwen in the opening round of the Mubadala DC Open. The 21-year-old Filipina standout dropped the first set before rebounding to defeat Zheng 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in Washington.
In her postmatch news conference, Eala said the victory was especially satisfying coming after the break following Wimbledon.
“I’m really proud of my performance today. It’s never easy to go into your first round after the break after Wimbledon, so I’m really happy with the level of competition and how I held my ground.”
Eala said the atmosphere was a welcome surprise in her first appearance in Washington and noted the support from Filipino fans in the stands.
“I knew there was a Filipino community. Most of these places I’m not really sure what to expect at this point, but I was pleasantly surprised.”
The match turned in the second set, when Eala broke Zheng back at love after losing her own serve at love. She said that momentum shift helped her extend the match and create more chances.
“I definitely think it helped. I was just trying to take it game by game and make the match a little longer and see if I could get more opportunities and earn more opportunities.”
Facing Zheng, the reigning Olympic gold medalist, Eala said she understood she would need to stay disciplined and make her opponent uncomfortable.
“Of course, you’re going to do everything you can to win, but you have to expect that she’s going to make it difficult for you. You have to do your best to make it difficult for her. I think that’s kind of the essence of tennis.”
Eala said her competitive edge has always been there, but she believes it has been strengthened by the experience she has gained on tour.
“I think I’ve already had that in me. I think it’s definitely a mindset that you have. That being said, I think it’s been trained or I’ve practiced.”
She also addressed the physical demands of a packed schedule since the start of the grass season, saying she is balancing recovery with communication between her team and tournament medical staff. Eala described the leg strapping seen at Wimbledon as preventive.
“I think it was more preventive. I had a lot of matches on grass and a lot of high-level matches where I would run a lot.”
Eala said her first impression of Washington has been overwhelmingly positive.
“The center court is beautiful. The people are so hospitable, and of course, the city is very beautiful.”
Looking ahead, Eala said she is excited for the U.S. Open mixed doubles event, where she is listed to partner with Felix Auger-Aliassime.
“I am so excited for the opportunity to play with him. I think there’s a lot that I can learn partnering up with him.”
Eala said she tries not to focus on the bigger picture during matches and instead concentrates on the details that can change momentum.
“In moments like that, small details can give you those opportunities to change the match. You want to go out of the court with the peace of mind that you gave it your all.”
Asked about superstitions, Eala said she used to be much more ritual-driven when she was younger, but not anymore.
“I don’t think superstitions are really beneficial. If you think about it in practical terms.”
