Filipina teen tennis sensation Alex Eala has bigger plans in store this 2021.

After experiencing her first Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) 1000 tournament in the 2021 Miami Open, Eala will be traveling to Bellinzona, Switzerland, for her maiden women’s $60,000 competition which will be staged from April 5 to 11.

The 15-year-old Filipina is already in the main draw of the event via the junior exempt program.

This is where the top-ranked juniors players are allotted a number of pro tournament spots within the year.

Since Eala finished with a yearend world No. 3 ranking in the juniors circuit, she is allowed to join up to 3 $25,000 and 2 $60,000 events this 2021.

Though she was booted out of the opening round of the Miami Open qualifying tournament with a loss to world No. 29 Viktoria Kuzmova, Eala managed to take the 1st set to stun her Slovakian foe.

Eala earned a wild card to her first WTA tournament which will feature world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, world No. 2 and 2021 Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka, and world No. 3 Simona Halep.

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar will continue to join women’s tournaments after she opened 2021 with a maiden pro title.

After kicking off the 2020 season with her maiden Grand Slam title in Melbourne, the rising tennis star became the Philippines’ first junior Grand Slam semifinalist in 35 years in the Roland Garros girls singles tournament. – Rappler.com