Facing Alex Eala on the tour also means playing in front of a frenetic and hostile crowd.
Russian Tatiana Prozorova is unfazed. In fact, she sees herself thriving in such environment.
‘Well, yes [I’m expecting a big crowd], but I also love to play in front of a big crowd,’ she said.
‘I had experience with this, so I really love it.’
The 22-year-old Prozorova set up a second-round date with the Filipino sensation after outlasting Belgium’s Sofia Costoulas, 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-2, in the Singapore Open on Tuesday.
Their match is slated for Thursday at OCBC Arena center court, where thousands of Eala’s supporters are expected to show up and fill the 3,000-capacity venue.
Filipino fans in Singapore have long wanted to at least catch a glimpse of Eala ever since the World No. 18 arrived here in the Lion City on Thursday for the WTA 500 tournament.
The third-seeded Eala was initially scheduled to make her main draw debut at the Singapore Open on Wednesday before organizers pushed it back to Thursday.
‘Well, I understand because Filipinos are all around the world. And of course, every person supporting the players, no matter which country, it’s normal. It’s okay, of course,’ Prozorova, who’s ranked 180th, said.
‘So, I just need to be calm.’