US Open: Alex Eala advances, eyes quarters vs Greek foe

FILE – Filipino tennis star Alex Eala during a Wimbledon girls’ doubles match. Photo from Alex Eala’s Facebook

MANILA, Philippines—Alex Eala is trying to go deeper than she’s ever been in the US Open. And so is her Greek opponent.

The Filipino top player, seeded second, was to face 15th seed Michaela Laki Wednesday (Manila time) in Flushing Meadows, New York.

A win would ensure her a spot in the quarterfinals, closer still to a Grand Slam title that the 16-year-old has been eyeing the past two years.

“Just do it in the city of dreams,” wrote Eala on her Facebook page.

Although he made the semifinals of the French Open last year, Eala was only able to make second round in the US Open when she debuted in the Grand Slams in 2019.

Unlike that year when she had to battle through qualifying rounds, this time around Eala is favored to cut through the main draw as among the top seeds.

She eliminated American Charlotte Owensby, 6-3, 6-3, in the second round Tuesday night after taking a bye in the opening round.

Now standing in her way is fellow sixteener Laki who advanced after a 6-0, 6-4 triumph over Elizabeth Coleman.

Eala and Laki clash at 11 p.m. Manila time at Court 12.

On the same court, Eala and Belgian partner Hanne Vandewinkel will play second round against Laki in tandem with Slovakian Radka Zelnickova later in the day.