Eala nears main US Open Jr draw; Pantino sent packing

Alex Eala moved a step closer to her first grand slam main draw late Friday in New York City.

The 14-year-old Filipino outlasted the older and more experienced Kimmi Nance of the United States, 6-3, 7-5, to get through the US Open girls’ qualifying finals in Flushing Meadows.

But fellow Filipino Arthur Craig Pantino fumbled, bowing to Milan Welte of Germany, 6-4, 6-3, in the boys’ qualifying.

Eala guns for the seat in the main draw on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) against Romana Cisovska of Slovakia, a 16-year-old with a women’s singles ranking of 1130.

The qualifying round top seed Cisovska downed Jenna de Falco of the United States, 7-5, 6-3, to advance.

Eala converted five of eight break-point opportunities in fashioning the impressive win at Cary Leeds Match Court 3 in one hour and 51 minutes.