Taking care of business

Professional

Of course, Eala has been in a professional setting since she was 13, when she left her homeland to join Rafael Nadal's academy in Mallorca.

For the past six years, she has lived and breathed tennis alongside top coaches and a group of players all hoping to make the journey onto the tour.

But, she says her noticeably businesslike approach was gained more from her family, rather than the daily regime in Spain.

"It's not something I learned in the academy. It's something I've gotten from, I guess, from my experience; the things I have been through leading up to this moment. It's also something my family has guided me through, it's part of my family's values," she said.

"They are successful people in business, they are successful in their own fields, and people I look up to. I think they lead by example when it comes to that."

The twin influences on her career were evident in her box — her parents had flown in from the Philippines for the game, as had an uncle and cousin who are based in Seattle, but sat with them was Toni Nadal, the Spanish great's uncle and former coach, representing the academy.

"So, a lot of extra motivation for my match today. I really wanted to have my family see me winning, but I know they'd be happy just to see me compete in this setting.

"And Toni also came to Miami. That did mean a lot, because I have been working closely with him for so long, alongside my main coaches from the academy, it showed a lot about the confidence and the pride the academy has in me," she added.