Alex Eala stuns seeded rival, advances to second round of W60 Trnava tourney

by Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

Alex Eala returns to action with a stunning first-round victory in Slovakia. (File Photo/Alex Eala Facebook page)

Alex Eala returned to competition on a high note after stunning Leyre Romero Gormez of Spain, 6-1, 6-0, at the start of the W60 Trnava 2nd Empire Women’s Indoor Tennis Tournament in Slovakia Tuesday, March 7 (Wednesday in Manila).

The 17-year-old Eala hardly broke a sweat in dispatching her sixth-seeded rival with superb shots to advance to the second round of the $60,000 event.

The easy victory arranged the Filipina tennis sensation a meeting with fellow unseeded rival Sonay Kartal of Great Britain, who needed more flexing in edging wildcard bet and hometown player Natalia Krockova, 6-4, 6-3.

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This would be the first time that Eala and Kartal are facing in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) scene, with the PH bet holding a slight advantage against her Slovakian rival.

Though younger than Kartal by four years, Eala boasts of a higher ITF ranking at No. 220 compared to the Slovakian’s No. 262.

Kartal, however, has four ITF titles last year – all from $25,000 events – and is coming off a semifinal appearance at the W25 Glasgow tournament in Great Britain last February.

Eala, for her part, is coming off a one-month respite from competitions, with her last appearance at the Thailand Open in January where she finished in the first round after going through two qualifying matches. 

Aside from the singles, Eala is also seeing action the doubles with Lithuanian partner Justina Mikulskyte where they are set to clash against Slovakian pair Ela Platenikova and Nina Vargova in the opening round.

Hidilyn Diaz acknowledges Filipina athletes

by Manila Bulletin Sports

Hidilyn Diaz’s Instagram post after receiving her fourth PSA Athlete of the Year award at the Diamond Hotel Manila on March 6, Monday. 

Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz acknowledged the achievement of female athletes as part of the celebration of Women’s Month.

In an Instagram post, Diaz expressed her gratitude for being honored as the Athlete of the Year during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Awards Night at the Diamond Hotel Manila on Monday, March 6, while also congratulating fellow female athletes.

“Kasabay din [ng] women’s month, nakilala ang angking galing at kakayahan nating mga babae. Naniniwala ako na tayong mga Filipina ay may angking lakas, talino, kagandahan at katapangan,” Diaz wrote.

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“Congratulations sa lahat ng mga kapwa atleta at sports officials na nakatanggap ng award at sa lahat ng #womeninsports, Happy Women’s Month!”

It was the second straight and fourth overall recognition for Diaz in the annual awards rites following her successful campaign at the world championships in Bogota, Colombia last December where she bagged three gold medals.

Diaz, who also won the country’s first gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, said her goals are far from over as she sets her sights in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Yung pagtanggap ng award ko mula sa PSA ay malaking bagay sa akin dahil akala ko tapos na after Tokyo Olympics. Pero, heto ako ngayon, nakikilala pa rin ang ang sport ko at nare-recognize ang pagiging babaeng atleta sa weightlifting. At ipagpapatuloy pa rin natin ang laban para sa Pilipinas sa 2024 Paris Olympics,” wrote Diaz. 

Aside from being “Athlete of the Year,” Diaz is also a  recipient of the Milo Champion of Grit and Glory Award. (SONNY DAANOY, OJT)