Eala earns main draw slot in Guadalajara Open

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala advanced into the main draw of the World Tennis Association or WTA 500 in Guadalajara, Mexico after disposing Samantha Murray Sharan of Great Britain on Monday, September 8.
Photo Courtesy: ALEX EALA FACEBOOK PAGE
Keanna Wren

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala advanced into the main draw of the World Tennis Association or WTA 500 in Guadalajara, Mexico after disposing Samantha Murray Sharan of Great Britain on Monday, September 8.

The 19-year-old Eala will now play in the Guadalajara Open Akron as she imposed her will and trounced her 36-year-old foe at the Panamerican Tennis center.

Eala flexed her might as she surged to an early 3-0 lead in the first set of the final qualifying match until Sharan leveled the score at 4-all. Despite Sharan’s best efforts, the Filipina southpaw broke her in the ninth game and served out the set in the 10th.

The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate raced to a compelling 5-1 lead spiked by service breaks before concluding the match in the eighth game after three deuces. The play lasted one hour and 13 minutes.

This is Eala’s second win at the qualifying rounds after outclassing Fanny Stollar of Hungary, 6-1, 6-2, last Sunday, September 7.

The Filipina southpaw’s win arranged a first-round meeting with world No. 45 netter, Marie Bouzkova of the Czech Republic on Wednesday, September 11 (Manila time).