WHILE young Alex Eala is piling up wins at the French Open juniors competition, her dad Mike and mom Rizza could only monitor their daughter’s accomplishment on Paris’s clay.
“My wife and I couldn’t make it to Paris because of the travel restrictions,” said Mike, who last saw Alex and her brother Miko in February while on vacation from the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain where they are scholars.
But the couple said they are very happy with Eala’s second-round victory adding their daughter oozed with confidence during the match.
“It was really nice to see Alex keep her composure throughout the match. The idea is to take Roland Garros one match at a time, a set at a time, a game at a time and a point at a time,” Mike said.
Eala, 15, advanced to the third round after beating Mara Guth of Germany, 6-1; 5-7; 6-4, on Monday night.
“It was a relief,” Mike quoted her daughter as saying. “I am so happy to win this match against Mara Guth who also played well.”
The second set was again halted by heavy rains, just like in Eala’s opening-round match with Natalia Szabanin of Hungary the night before.
“It was an incredible game played by the opponent, we were concerned. But a match is won with two sets, and we are glad that Alex found a way to win,” Mike said.