PARIS: Alexandra Eala on Tuesday achieved a first Grand Slam match win for a Filipino woman, saying she hoped her doubles success at the French Open was part of 鈥渁 new era for sport鈥� in her country.

She teamed up with Mexico鈥檚 Renata Zarazua to defeat Britain鈥檚 Emily Appleton and Spain鈥檚 Yvonne Cavalle-Reimers 7-5, 6-4 and book a place in the second round.

The win came two days after the 20-year-old, the first woman from her country to compete in a Grand Slam, was eliminated in the first round of the singles by Emiliana Arango of Colombia 6-0, 2-6, 6-3.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so heartwarming,鈥� Eala told AFP of her Grand Slam match win.

鈥淥f course, it鈥檚 always good to come back and compete well after a singles loss, especially after a tight one.

鈥淚鈥檓 feeling good, it鈥檚 my debut in Grand Slam doubles so I鈥檓 feeling happy to be playing with Renata and to have my first Slam win.

鈥淥f course, it was a difficult (singles) loss but in the end I think there鈥檚 things to take away and I try to do better in the doubles.鈥�

The support from home has been 鈥減ositive,鈥� she said.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e happy to see a Filipino competing in the main draw in Paris.鈥�

Eala is part of a new generation of Filipino sports stars. She has trained since the age of 13 at Rafael Nadal鈥檚 academy in Mallorca, Spain.

She lifted the 2022 US Open girls鈥� singles trophy and reached the semifinals at Miami in March when, ranked 140th in the world, she beat three Grand Slam winners in Jelena Ostapenko, Madison Keys and world number two Iga Swiatek.

鈥淚 think we鈥檙e entering a new era for Filipino sport,鈥� the 73rd-ranked player said, pointing to the success of gymnast Carlos Yulo who took two gold medals at the Paris Olympics last year.

鈥淔ilipinos are very talented and very hard workers. There鈥檚 a support, a community, because it鈥檚 not often you (have) seen Filipino athletes excel on the international stage, so every time someone does good we鈥檙e very happy for them.鈥�