What Alex Eala said to her coaching team during her first-round win in Rome

Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images

Alex Eala advanced to the second round of the Italian Open with a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Magdalena Frech.

“I was just very happy that I was able to come back after being down a break and find the confidence in my game and play aggressive again,” said Eala.

“The people around me are so supportive. They really make it a point to focus on who I am as a person and not just as an athlete.”

Alex Eala says she wasn’t ‘tired’ enough during her first-round win in Rome

Photo by Robert Prange/Getty Images

In a conversation with the ‘Tennis Channel,’ Eala was asked about how she managed to come through the match.

“I think I told myself that I was not tired enough,” she said.

“I told my team that I was not finishing the points tired enough, so maybe the intensity went down a little bit.

“I tried my best to give that little extra push every single point, and it paid off.”

Eala moved ahead after a strong start, but her intensity dropped in the second set as Frech pulled level. The Filipina found her rhythm again in the third set and closed out an important win.

After taking control early on, Eala let up a bit and lost momentum, dropping the second set. But she found her footing again when it mattered most, pushing through for a hard-earned win to reach the next round.

She understands just how tough it is to compete at this level and knows she needs to maintain high standards if she wants to keep advancing.

Who will Alex Eala face in the next round of the Italian Open?

Her next challenge is against 31st seed Xinyu Wang, a familiar face from earlier this season.