Alex Eala barges into quarterfinals in Luxembourg

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala in W40 Petange. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala entered the quarterfinal round of the W40 Kyotec Open after dominating qualifier Johanne Christine Svendsen of Denmark, 6-3, 6-1, on Friday (Manila Time) in Petange, Luxembourg.

The 18-year-old Filipino sustained her fine form to eliminate Svendsen, following her 6-3, 6-2 win over Angelina Wirges of Germany in the first round.

The ninth-seed Eala takes on another qualifier Jasmijn Gimbrere of the Netherlands in the quarterfinal on Friday evening.

Gimbrere edged Julia Avdeeva, 6-3, 6-4, in the second round to forge a duel with Eala, who is currently World No. 204.

The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate is eyeing her fifth International Tennis Federation (ITF) singles crown.

The two-time Asian Games bronze medalist reached the semifinal of the W60 Nantes in France.

Meanwhile, Eala and Zyenep Sonmez of Turkiye battle top seed pair Ali Collins of Great Britain and Isabelle Haverlag of the Netherlands in the semifinal round of the doubles also on Friday evening.

Eala and Sonmez beat Bosnian Anita Wagner of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbian Katarina Kozarov, 6-2, 6-1, in the quarterfinal.