Alex Eala into W25 El Espinar/Segovia quarterfinal

Alex Eala in action at the W25 El Espinar/Segovia in Spain. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala barged into the quarterfinals of the W25 El Espinar/Segovia after taking down Amy Zhu of United States, 6-4, 6-3, on Wednesday (Manila time) in Spain.

The 17-year-old Eala broke from a 4-4 tie in the first set and pulled away in the second set to eliminate Zhu in the round of 16.

Eala set a quarterfinal duel with No.6 seed Rosa Vicens Mas of Spain on Thursday at 7 p.m. (Manila time).

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar overcame her slump in the $ 25,000 tournament after suffering back-to-back round of 16 exits in Palma Del Rio and Corroios-Seixal.

Eala took down Maria Bondarenko of Russia, 6-4, 6-3, in the first round on Tuesday.

The Filipino tennis prodigy, who achieved a new career-high in the WTA moving up to No. 282, 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.

She reached the semifinals of W60 Vitoria-Gasteiz last week.