Tennis ace Alex Eala. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines—Alex Eala secured her slot in the main draw of the W80 Rancho Santa Fe in California on Wednesday (Manila time).
Eala, the reigning US Open girls’ singles champion, advanced after thrashing American Alana Smith, 6-0, 6-0, in her second qualifying match.
The 17-year-old Eala faces another hometown bet in wildcard Dalayna Hewitt in the Round of 32 on Wednesday.
The winner will take on Katherine Sebov of Canada. Sebov is at No. 280 in the WTA rankings just a spot above Eala.
Eala also made quick work of Latvia’s Deniza Marcinkevica, 6-1, 6-3, in her first qualifying match on Tuesday.
Eala, who is coming off a pair of second-round finishes in her last two competitions, is aiming for her third singles title overall.
She is also competing in her first W80 tournament.
