Alex Eala routs Petra Marcinko to reach ASB Classic quarterfinal

Alex Eala in action during the ASB Classic tennis tournament in Auckland, New Zealand. –ASB CLASSIC INSTAGRAM

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala unleashed a hot start and dominated Croatia’s Petra Marcinko, 6-0, 6-2, on Thursday to advance to the ASB Classic quarterfinal in Auckland, New Zealand.

The Filipino tennis ace came out firing to start the game, blanking Marcinko in the opening set of the Women’s Tennis Association 250 tournament.

READ: No doubt Alex Eala is biggest PH sports figure of the year

Eala trailed the Croatian, 1-2, in Set 2 after winning seven straight games, including the opener.

But the world No. 82 Marcinko, an 11-time International Tennis Federation champion and the winner of the 2025 ATV Tennis Open, couldn’t capitalize on the strong start in the second set as Eala won five consecutive games en route to the next round.

READ: Alex Eala, Iva Jovic beat Venus Williams, Svitolina at ASB Classic

Eala, who is preparing for her main draw debut in the Australian Open, kicked off her ASB campaign by surviving Paris 2024 Olympics silver medalist Donna Vekic in the first round, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

She was supposedly set for a double duty on Thursday, but her doubles quarterfinal game with American partner Iva Jovic was moved to Friday.

They will face the decorated doubles netters, Czechia’s Jesika Maleckova and Mexico’s Renata Zarazua, for a semifinal berth.

Eala looks to continue her rise after a banner year 2025, which she ended with a 33rd Southeast Asian Games gold medal in the women’s singles.