Alex Eala ousts No. 1 seed in W25 Thailand second leg
Filipino tennis star Alex Eala. Thailand ITF World Tennis Tour Photo
MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala stunned No.1 seed Indy De Vroome of the Netherlands, 6-2, 6-3, on Wednesday in the first round of W25 Chiang Rai tournament’s second leg in Thailand.
Buoyed by her first leg singles championship — her second ITF Women’s World Tennis Tour title — last Sunday, the 16-year-old Filipino wunderkind took down De Vroome, who ranked World No. 263 in the Women’s Tennis Association.
Article continues after this advertisementThe No. 572 Eala got the best of her 25-year-old foe after an hour and 27-minute duel to reach the second round.
Eala will face Amy Zhu of the United States on Thursday.
Zhu beat hometown bet Patcharin Cheapchandej, 6-3, 7-6, to forge a duel with the Filipina teen.
Article continues after this advertisementEala also reached the doubles quarterfinals with her Japanese partner Shiho Akita of Japan after beating Thai pair Salakthip Ounmuang and Pawinee Ruamrak, 6-2, 6-1, on Tuesday.
The Filipino-Japanese tandem takes on the No. 4 duo Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand and Momoko Kobori of Japan also on Thursday.
