Eala channels ‘idol’ Nadal to become Philippines’ first Slam winner

NEW YORK: Alexandra Eala became the Philippines’ first Grand Slam junior champion at the US Open on Saturday, using her “idol” Rafael Nadal for inspiration.

The 17-year-old Filipino defeated French Open girls champion Lucie Havlickova of the Czech Republic 6-2, 6-4 in the final.

“My idol is obviously Rafa. He’s a very good role model, something a lot of people should idolize and try to be,” said Eala who is based at the 22-time Grand Slam champion’s academy in Spain.

“The biggest thing I notice in Rafa is how he fights till the end, how his thoughts are so clear.

“He’s so calm, but at the same time so fired up. I think I really tried to channel that energy during this whole week.”

Eala was playing her first junior tournament since the Orange Bowl in Florida last December.

Since then, she became the first Filipino to both contest and win a WTA main draw match when she defeated Paula Ormaechea at Cluj-Napoca in August.

Eala is already her country’s highest ranked player on the WTA at 297 in the world.

Her brother, 20-year-old Michael, who plays college tennis in the US, is currently the Philippines’ leading man on the ATP, albeit at a lowly 1,506.