Alex Eala tops Romanian foe in France tilt

FILE – Alex Eala in the third leg of the ITF Rafa Nadal Academy World Tennis Tour. RAFA NADAL ACADEMY

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala kicked off her campaign in the Trophee de la Ville with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win over Laura-Ioana Paar Tuesday in Grenoble, France.

It was a thrilling opening round match for Eala, who needed two hours and 18 minutes to outlast the 32-year-old Romanian.

The 15-year-old Eala faces seventh seed Cristina Busca of Spain in the second round of the women’s $25,000 tournament.

The Rafa Nadal Academy scholar is in her fourth consecutive pro tournament after competing in three legs of the ITF World Tennis Tour in Manacor, Spain.

She claimed her first professional title in the first leg of the tour before making the quarterfinals in the last two legs.

Her maiden pro championship catapulted Eala into the top 1000 of the WTA ranking at No. 942.