DISPLAYING a polished all-around game, Alex Eala eased past Englishwoman Samantha Dawn Murray Sharan 6-4, 6-2 early yesterday morning (Sunday afternoon in Mexico), earning her first main draw slot in a World Tennis Association 500 tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The 19-year-old Filipina tennis sensation will now play in the Guadalajara Open Akron after disposing of her 36-year-old rival in one hour and 13 minutes of play at the Panamerican Tennis center.
Eala surged to an early 3-0 lead in the first set of her final qualifying match until Sharan came alive to level the score at 4-all until the Pinay southpaw broke her in the ninth game and served out the set in the 10th.
She imposed her will against her outclassed English rival, racing to a commanding 5-1 lead spiked by service breaks in the first, second and fifth games while giving away the sixth before closing the match in the eighth after three deuces.
Eala will have an extra day to rest before facing sixth-seeded Marie Bouzkova Tuesday (Wednesday morning in Manila) in her opening-round match. — Bong Pedralvez
Bouzkova, ranked No. 4 in the world, is a former US Open girls singles champion, clinching the prestigious trophy in 2014.
