00:00After her Cinderella run at the Miami Open,
00:04Filipina Tennis ace Alex Ayala is set to make her debut
00:07in the main draw of Grand Slam tournaments this year.
00:11First on the list is the French Open,
00:13which will begin from May 25 to June 8.
00:16Here's a report from Jamaica Bayaka.
00:20For the first time in your professional tennis career,
00:23Filipino tennis sensation Alex Ayala
00:25will play in the main draw of the prestigious Grand Slam tournament.
00:28Following her historic run at the Miami Open recently,
00:32Ayala's world ranking has risen to number 73,
00:35a new career high for the 19-year-old player.
00:37Now that she's in the top 100 of the Women's Tennis Association or WTA,
00:41her spot in the Grand Slam tournament is secured,
00:44including her upcoming debut at the French Open.
00:47Of course, I'm excited for the Grand Slam's ahead.
00:51Roland Garros, I know that I will be in the main draw.
00:55So, I'm very excited about that.
00:59My first time to be in the main draw.
01:02So, it's a new experience and, you know, everything to gain.
01:08Ayala also shared that she has started practicing on a clay course
01:11to prepare for the Grand Slam tournament.
01:13Confidence is there, definitely.
01:15I think the shots are really high in quality after the week I just had.
01:23I haven't been on clay in roughly a year.
01:27So, it's been a while since I've stepped on clay,
01:30but that's really how it goes.
01:31The grass plus the hard season is very long.
01:35So, I'm just trying to adjust my game,
01:37like feel around the court and feel comfortable with the clay.
01:40If there's anyone Ayala looks up to the French Open,
01:44it's her mentor Rafael Nadal,
01:45who is considered the king of clay
01:47after winning 14 titles at Roland Garros.
01:50Rafa has been a big role model,
01:54not just for me, I think for everybody.
01:56He's such a huge role model.
01:59And to be mentioned in the same breath,
02:03it's nice to hear.
02:05And of course, Roland Garros meant so much to him as a player.
02:11He's achieved so much.
02:14And I'm trying to just make my own path
02:17and do, you know,
02:21not just because I want to do well in Roland Garros,
02:24not just because Rafa did well there.
02:25I want to do well there because it's what I want to do.
02:29And I believe that I can do well on the Grand Slam of clay.
02:33Before her highly anticipated debut at the French Open,
02:37Ayala will compete in the Oveira's Ladies Open in Portugal
02:39from April 14 to 20,
02:41followed by the Mutua Madrid Open in Spain
02:43from April 22 to May 4.
02:45Jamaica Bayaca from the National TV Network
02:48for a new and better Philippines.
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