MANILA — Filipino tennis player Alex Eala defeated Russian Alina Charaeva 6-1, 6-2 on Monday night at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, advancing to the Round of 16 of the Philippine Women’s Open.
The 20-year-old, ranked 49th in the world, faced a brief medical timeout while trailing 2-1 in the second set, but returned to win five consecutive games to close out the match.
Eala said playing on home soil during a WTA event added pressure but allowed her to reflect on her career and the growth of tennis in the Philippines.
The Philippine Women’s Open continues at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex with remaining Round of 16 matches scheduled later this week.