Alex Eala in the W25 Madrid. –ALEX EALA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala barged into the quarterfinal and forged a duel against her doubles partner Alice Robbe of France on Friday in the W25 Madrid tournament at Ciudad de la Raqueta in Spain.
The 17-year-old Filipino tennis star eliminated No. 4 seed Xiaodi You of China, 6-4, 6-2, in the second round of the singles tournament on Thursday.
Eala, World Tennis Association (WTA) World No. 419, unleashed a strong 4-1 start in the first set and finished strong in the second to complete an upset of You, world ranked No.296.
The three-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist and her French partner Robbe, who is the No.8 seed, are fighting for a spot in the the next round of the Madrid tournament.
Robbe beat Spaniard Marta Soriano Santiago, 6-3, 6-4, to set a showdown with her Filipino partner.
Eala and Robbe suffered a quarterfinals exit in the W25 Madrid doubles last Wednesday, losing to Zoe Hives of Australia and Katherine Sebov of Canada, 0-6, 4-6.
The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar is eyeing her third title in Madrid, following her successful championship runs in W15 Manacor in Spain last year and W25 Chiang Rai first leg this year.
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