FILE–Tennis players Alex Eala. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines — Buoyed by her first US Open juniors singles crown, Alex Eala returned to the professional tournament with a rousing 6-0, 6-0 rout over Shavit Kimchi of Israel in the W60 Templeton on Thursday (Manila time) in California.
The first Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles crown hardly broke a sweat as she blanked Kimchi to kick off her return to the $60, 000 tournament and advance to the second round.
The 17-year-old Eala battles No.7 seed Katarzyna Kawa of Poland in the round of 16 on Friday at 3:30 a.m. (Manila time).
The 29-year-old Kawa outlasted Renata Zarazua of Mexico, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, in the first round.
Eala, who is currently 291st in the Women’s Tennis Association world rankings, is eyeing her elusive third pro title after ruling the 2021 W15 Manacor in Spain and W25 Chiang Rai in Thailand last April.
The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar’s best finish in a $60, 000 tournament was in W60 Madrid last June, where she settled as runner-up after losing to hometown bet Marina Bassols Ribera in the final.
However, Eala suffered a first-round exit in the doubles competition as she and her French partner Alice Robbe fell to American pair Madison Brengle and Whitney Osuigwe, 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-10.