Filipina tennister Alex Eala has seemingly recovered from back-to-back early exits in China, entering the main draw of the Guangzhou Open, a WTA 250 tournament.
Philippine tennis sensation Alex Eala broke through on Monday, October 21, as she entered the main draw of the WTA Guangzhou Open, winning her second qualifying match in straight sets.
After edging out home bet Gao Xinyu in a three-set marathon on Sunday, Eala delivered a more dominant showing against Elena Pridankina in her final qualifying match, 6-2, 6-2, to get herself going in China.
Prior to her twin victories in Guangzhou, it was two disappointing outings for the 19-year-old at the Wuhan and Ningbo Open as she exited in the Round of 64 and qualifiers, respectively, in the singles tournament.
Before being a wild card entry in Wuhan, she previously made the main draw of a WTA tournament last September in Guadalajara, where she fell in the Round of 32.
Now with a chance to end her China stint on a high before returning to Manila for a break, the Rafa Nadal Academy Scholar will look to make a deep run in the WTA 250 tournament.
She faces a field of players led by 1-seed Katerina Siniakova of Czechia, who is ranked 48th in the world in singles. She is the no. 1 player in women’s doubles.
Siniakova was the one who beat Eala in the Round of 64 in Wuhan.
Eala’s next foe has yet to be determined as the final day of qualifying is still playing out.