Alex Eala zooms into Round of 16 in W25 El Espinar/Segovia

Tennis ace Alex Eala at the W25 El Espinar/Segovia. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala took down Maria Bondarenko of Russia, 6-4, 6-3, to enter the Round of 16 of the W25 El Espinar/Segovia on Tuesday (Manila time) in Spain.

Coming off a semifinal exit in the W60 Vitoria-Gasteiz last Saturday, the 17-year-old tennis star opened her $25,000 tournament stint on a high note.

Eala set a Round of 16 duel with American Amy Zhu on Wednesday (Manila time).

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar recently achieved her new career-high on Tuesday leaping from WTA No. 317 to No. 282, her highest ranking.

Eala is eyeing her elusive third professional title after winning her first in W15 Manacor last year and making another title run in W25 Chiang Rai last April.

In her last two $ 25,000 tournaments, the Filipino suffered a back-to-back round of 16 exits in Palma Del Rio and Corroios-Seixal.