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.
The 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.
Eala 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.