MELBOURNE, Australia — From the first-set bagel to the pro-Alexandra Eala crowd, Alycia Parks had her back against the wall. All signs initially pointed to a straight-sets victory for Eala, but Parks came back and pulled off a stunning 0-6, 6-3, 6-2 win in the Australian Open first round.
To set the scene, the queue to watch Alexandra Eala’s match on Court 6 at Melbourne Park on Monday afternoon was unbelievable. Hundreds of people organizing in a line that extended all the way back, adjacent to Rod Laver Arena, waiting for a spot to watch the 20-year-old’s main draw debut at the Australian Open. It was also Parks’ second time in main draw in Melbourne.
Philippine flags decorated the stands in all directions, ‘Let’s go Alex’ transcended every few games and roars — even in what might be considered an inconsequential point — overpowered the Melbourne Park grounds initially.
The fanbase the rising star — who stayed to sign autographs even in defeat — has developed over the last year on the WTA Tour Driven by Mercedes-Benz was in full force. From the court’s designated fan seating to the bar that overlooks the sideline and the ledge that faces the baseline, Eala had essentially brought in a maximum capacity crowd, and, frankly, there were no empty seats. Yet, Parks found a way to conquer that barrier.
Eala delivered to begin the match. An opening game that lasted 20 points and ended with consecutive missed smash volleys by Parks foreshadowed how the afternoon would turn out. Eala got the early break. She was off and running, winning eight of the next nine points to take a 3-0 lead and ultimately closed the 34-minute first-set with a bagel.
Parks regrouped and settled into the match in the second set. Sprinting out to a 3-0 lead with the early break, the American seemed to find her groove. Though Eala leveled at 3-3, Parks remained calm and collected, taking the final three games – a pivotal break to go up 5-3 allowed Parks, who relied on 12 aces in the match, to serve for the set.
It was now a new match. One set to decide who would advance to the second round to face Karolina Muchova or Jaqueline Cristian, and pendulum had shifted into Parks’ favor and the crowd had slowly started to simmer down.
Parks struck first with the early break and hold to jump to a 2-0 advantage. That break proved crucial as Eala and Parks traded holds up until Parks led 4-2 in the set.
The American had grasped control of the match fully, and once Eala’s backhand down the line went out, Parks’ second break of the set gave her a comfortable three-game lead with a chance to serve for the match.
Eala saved two match points, but Parks serve proved too strong for an exhausted Eala, as the American successfully rallied to advance to the second round and did earned an ovation and applause.
More to come
