After her fabulous course in Miami (where she was eliminated at the gates of the final by Jessica Pegula), Alexandra Eala changed her dimension. After her successes in the same tournament against Ostapenko, Keys and Swiatek, the 19 -year -old Philippine player, invited by the organization of the Florida tournament, made her debut in the Top 100 and is currently in 70th position.
Before starting her Rome tournament against Marta Kostyuk this Wednesday during a first enticing round on Roman clay, Eala granted an interview to Tennis Channel in recent hours.
“Personally, I clearly prefer the hard shorts. This is the surface on which I grew up, even if I spent time on clay since, of course. On the junior circuit, we play a lot on clay. I like to say that I am comfortable on both surfaces, but I think I am even more comfortable on hard.
I remember once when I looked at Rafa (Nadal) in person at Roland-Garros. I must have been about 12 years old. I do not agree with those who say that I play like him, but I think that, more than my style of play, it is the attitude of the players on the court that counts and which I try to be inspired.
I also looked at Sharapova a lot when I was young, and it was she who transmitted a large part of her notch and her power to me. I also pulled a large part of my fighting spirit by looking at Rafa. But I think what I preferred by looking at Sharapova when I was young, it was her outfits! “, She concluded.
