Alex Eala poses with tennis legend Rafael Nadal. PHOTO ALEX EALA FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala got off to a strong start in her fifth professional tournament this year.
The Filipino tennis ace dispatched Swiss bet Simona Waltert, 6-1, 6-4, Wednesday in the ITF Rafael Nadal Academy W25 Manacor in Mallorca, Spain.
At 15 years old Alex Eala 🇵🇭 is still unstoppable! Today she beat world number 302 Simona Waltert and advances to the second round of the @ITFTennis by @movistar_es tournament! VAMOS‼️ pic.twitter.com/mdtypr97Yg
— Rafa Nadal Academy by Movistar (@rnadalacademy) March 3, 2021
It was another impressive outing by Eala, who made quick work of the more experienced Waltert.
The 20-year-old Waltert is ranked 284th in the WTA while Eala, who is participating in her second straight $25,000 tournament, is at 763.
Waltert showed some resistance and made the match a bit more interesting in the second set but Eala proved too much.
The 15-year-old Eala, a scholar at Rafa Nadal Academy, has had three quarterfinals appearances in his last three pro stints with her last one in the ITF Trophee De La Ville De Grenoble in France.
Her string of quarterfinal berths came after she began the year with her first pro title in the first leg of the Rafa Nadal Academy World Tennis Tour.