Everything Alex Eala said in her press conference after ‘tough’ match at Canadian Open
Alex Eala took her winning streak to seven matches with a three-set win over Caty McNally at the Canadian Open as she booked her place in the round of 16 in Toronto.
Fresh from winning her maiden WTA Tour title at last week’s Washington DC Open, Eala kicked off her campaign at the WTA 1000 with a three-set win over Alycia Parks.
And the Filipina was again forced to go to a decider by McNally before securing a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory to set up a clash against 12th seed Belinda Bencic.
The world No 20 faced the media after her match as she admitted she is “feeling the effects of just everything” that has happened over the past few weeks.
Q: Alex, what a win tonight. An amazing atmosphere out there. It was a really hard-fought battle against a great opponent. Can you just give us your keys to the match today?
ALEX EALA: “Thanks for waiting, guys. I think it was a really tough match today for many reasons. One being also that Caty is such a big fighter. I think she’s got definitely some good weapons and, yeah, it was a tight one.”
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Q: After the match you kind of just sat there and just, can you explain that moment, and just what was going through your mind.
ALEX EALA: “I think this match was really challenging for me. I think the whole two weeks, I guess, have been very challenging. Each match that I’ve played has presented its unique set of challenges.
“Today, obviously it was really close. I think, you know, like, I’m really, of course I’m feeling the effects of just everything.
“I think I’m really doing my best, like I said on court, to stay professional and stick to what I know. But everything, of course, like, these past two weeks I’ve been feeling emotions so extremely because of the circumstances, which is a great thing.
“I think I’m quite a sentimental person. But at the same time it’s just kind of like finding that balance. So, I think I’m really proud of how I handled today, and what I did on court.”
Q: There were so many times there in the match where you were tested. You had to come from early holes in the games. What are you telling yourself in the moment when you’re fighting back from those early deficits in games?
ALEX EALA: “I think I tried to focus more on factual things. Of course, there are many external factors, but there are also things I can control.
“I was aware of the situation. I know that she was playing well. I know that I was missing certain balls here and there. I tried to just play the point better than the point before, yeah.”
Q: The blue dinosaur super fan was back today.
ALEX EALA: “Oh, my gosh. (Laughing).”
Q: Just talk about your new super fan, and how much are you noticing him throughout the match?
ALEX EALA: “You know, today I didn’t see him in the crowd. I knew, I know he was there. People told me he was there. But, wow, what a legend.
“Like, it was so funny when I first saw him the first night. Amazing. I think it was just, I don’t know, it was like such a light, funny spin to kind of, like, how, how people support me. It just comes out in very unique ways, and I think his really stood out.”
Q: I noticed in the third set, after you won a point, you asked the crowd to cheer louder. You were egging them on to cheer. Players have talked about how a crowd can will a player to victory. Did you feel that tonight, especially in the third set, that the crowd was even more supportive of you than normal?
ALEX EALA: “Yes, I think, I mean, in that point specifically, I think I wanted to kind of, like, I was hyped, so I wanted to kind of share that with the crowd. Obviously also try to take in their energy.
“I think it was a pretty good point. I don’t remember quite so well. Yeah, normally I try to just be indifferent and kind of like, you know. But I think that point was specifically, I’m sorry, I can’t find the word. I, yeah, I wanted that point (laughing).”
Q: You had such a nice warm hug with Caty at the net. Can you share what exchange you had, what words you exchanged at the net?
ALEX EALA: “Yeah, no, I obviously, I think there was a huge mutual respect for the great match that we had. She told me congratulations, and she said, Thanks for letting me be a part of this, which is incredibly kind and gracious from her.
“Yeah, I think, yeah, super gracious and a lot of respect for Caty.”
Q: I also want to ask how tired you are. I know right after the match you put your legs up like that. How hard did you have to push tonight to get that win?
ALEX EALA: “I needed to push a lot. I’m as tired as one can be at this stage. You can imagine, a lot of matches. But, you know, that’s the job.
“I’m ready. I’m excited for another match. I’m going to do my best to recover and, you know, start again from zero.”
Q: Obviously a big part of your game is being aggressive and taking the ball early. The slice, you’ve been kind of working that into your, especially in the last few tournaments. How much of a weapon do you believe that having the slice as part of your arsenal can help you going forward?
ALEX EALA: “I think it’s important to know how to change rhythm, I guess. Yeah, I think, I guess it’s been pretty effective because I’ve been doing pretty well. But it’s one among the other things that I have.”
Q: Wondering how you’re doing physically. I think you had like an ankle moment. How are you doing physically, and do you expect that to maybe be a concern for you as the tournament progresses?
ALEX EALA: “I kind of rolled my ankle in that second set. Like, I hit the forehand and I landed kind of wrong. I called the physio. I think I was a little, I was like, Oh, I don’t know what happened, because it happened so fast. But luckily there’s nothing wrong with it, and it was no serious problems.
“But, I mean, yeah, today was physically, it pushed me a lot. I have a lot of matches in the bag. But that goes for good and bad. I think this is also a learning process. We’re athletes. So that kind of physical is, you know, it’s like a huge part of our job.
“I think I have a great team who is going to help me recover, and I have high hopes for the rest of the tournament.”
Q: Your thoughts on playing Bencic?
ALEX EALA: Oh, super excited. It’s going to be the first time that I’m facing her.
“Of course Belinda is, I mean, she has accomplished so much in tennis. Of course, I remember watching her win the Olympic medal, so I think I’m really excited to be on court again, yeah.”
