Alex Eala reacts during her match against Israel’s Shavit Kimchi in the first round of their junior girls’ singles match at the 2020 Australian Open. Photo taken from Rafa Nadal Academy Facebook
Filipino rising star Alex Eala is off to a great start in her campaign in the junior girls’ singles of the 2020 Australian Open.
Eala, a promising scholar at Rafael Nadal Academy, got things going with a 6-0, 4-6, 6-2 win over Shavit Kimchi of Israel on Sunday at Melbourne Park.
The 14-year-old Eala advanced to the second round and will face Julia Belgraver of France.
Belgraver fashioned out a comeback victory over hometown bet Mia Repac, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, in her opening round assignment.
Eala and Indonesia’s Priska Madelyn Nugroho will make their debut in the junior girls’ doubles against the duo of Russia’s Elina Avanesyan and Ukraine’s Liubov Kostenko on Monday.