Eala advances to quarterfinals of France ITF tiff

Alex Eala. Photo from RAFA NADAL ACADEMY

MANILA, Philippines—Alex Eala advanced to yet another quarterfinals after overcoming Spain’s Christina Bucsa 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(8) Thursday in the ITF Trophee De La Ville De Grenoble in France.

The 15-year-old had to push through in the final set as Bucsa forced an 8-8 tie despite trailing 6-3 earlier.

Eala then won the next two points to seal her ticket to the tournament’s quarterfinals, her fourth straight entry since starting her professional career this year.

Her victory was her second straight three-setter after she held off Romanian Laura-Ioana Paar in the opening round of the Grenoble tournament 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

It has been a fruitful 2021 campaign for Eala as she won her first professional tournament, the first leg of the ITF Rafa Nadal Academy World Tennis Tour. She’s never lost a match before the quarterfinals of any competition she’s been in.

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