MANILA, Aug. 8 -- Filipino tennis player Alexandra Eala has won four doubles titles as part of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Under-14 touring team to Young Stars Tournaments in Europe from the second week of July until this week.
Eala and Indonesian partner, Priska Madelyn Nugroho, defeated Italians, Eleonora Alvisi and Asia Serafini, 6-2, 6-4, in the finals of the Open des Jeune that was organized by the Stade Francais Club in Paris, France -- the kick off tournament of the program supported by the Grand Slam Development Fund.
From Paris, the team proceeded to Velp, Netherlands for the Windmill Cup where Eala and Nugroho claimed their second straight doubles title after beating Egyptian, Hania Aboulsaad, and Moroccan, Sara Akid, 7-5, 6-1.
The touring team returned to France and joined the La Balle Mimosa Loire-Atlantique in Nantes. Eala and Nugroho once again dominated the doubles competition, winning over Peru's Daianne Hayashida and Camila Soares, 6-3, 6-1, in the finals.
The fourth stop of the touring team was the Internationale Deutsche Tennismeisterschaften in Duren, Germany. Eala and Nugroho clinched their fourth title after posting a 4-6, 6-4, (10-5) victory over South Koreans, Bo Young Jeong and Yeon Woo Ku, in the championship round.
Alex's mother, Rizza Maniego-Eala, said in an interview on Tuesday that the touring team will also compete in Belgium. The tournament will start on Wednesday (Manila time).
Filipina Alexandra Eala (right) and Indonesian Priska Madelyn Nugroho holding their championship trophies in the tournament in Duren, Germany over the weekend. (Photo taken from Alex Eala's Facebook account)
Eala was a member of the team that played in the World Juniors Tennis Championships Asia-Oceania Final Qualifying in Bangkok, Thailand last March. Her teammates were Ma. Carmencita Carlos and Amanda Gabrielle Zoleta.
Each year, talented tennis players from developing countries are chosen to join ITF touring teams to play in higher-level competitions outside their regions. The teams are supervised by an experienced ITF coach. The players are selected based on their performance in international tournaments.
The ITF organizes international teams and regional teams from Africa, Asia, Caribbean/Central America, Pacific Oceania, Eastern Europe and South America. (PNA)
