FILE – Alex Eala at the W25 El Espinar/Segovia. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines—Alex Eala reintroduced herself to juniors competition with a dominant win over Canada’s Annabelle Xu, 6-3, 6-0, in the US Open girls’ singles first round on Sunday at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.
The 17-year-old Eala showed why she’s seeded 10th in the tournament, needing only an hour and 17 minutes to dispose of the unseeded Xu.
“Good start! Won my 1st Round match today. Thank you to all who came to watch and cheer me. You guys are the best!” Eala posted on social media.
Eala’s US Open campaign marked her return to juniors action after competing in the pro circuit where she’s won a couple of titles.
The 17-year-old Eala will face Slovakia’s Nina Vargova in the second round.
Vargova, who is also unseeded, beat the United States’ Mia Slama, 6-0, 7-6(5), in her opening round matchup.
Eala suffered a quarterfinals upset at the hands of Switzerland’s Sebastianna Scilipoti in last year’s US Open girls’ singles tournament where she was the No. 2 seed.