Filipina tennis star Alex Eala makes quick work of Russian foe to begin her final tournament of the year.
Alex Eala had a strong start to her final tournament of her 2024 season, drubbing Russian qualifier Rada Zolotareva in two sets in the Round of 32 at the W100 Dubai at the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday.
Eala, who is fresh from Bahrain after leading the Philippines to a promotion in the Billie Jean King Cup, needed less than an hour and a half to beat Zolotareva, 6-2, 6-3, to advance as the 4-seed in the tiff.
[RELATED: Alex Eala relishes leading Team Philippines to BJK Cup promotion in Bahrain]
Against the younger Zolotareva, Eala jumped the gun as she seized the dominant 5-1 lead from the get-go. Though the Russian was able to pull one back by holding her serve in Game 7, it only prolonged the inevitable as Eala took the set lead, 6-2.
In the second set, it was a tougher challenge from Zolotareva as she went toe-to-toe against Eala. During the first six games of the set, it was a back-and-forth affair at 3-3.
But Eala seized the momentum and the lead in the next game, breakinf the Russian’s serve to take the 4-3 advantage and followed it up with back-to-back game wins to complete the sweep, 6-3.
The 19-year-old plays again later today in the doubles tournament where she will be joined by Valentini Grammatikopoulou from Greece. They face Daria Kudashova and Ekaterina Shalimova.
Back in singles, Eala faces Yuliya Hatouka in the Round of 16 set on Wednesday.