AFTER an overnight wait in a match halted last Monday due to rain, Alex Eala needed just nine minutes to dispatch Dutchwoman Anouk Koevermans 6-3, 6-4 and advance to the second round of the Oeiras Ladies Open at the Jamor Tennis Club in Oeiras, Portugal yesterday afternoon (noon in Europe).
Sporting a spotless all-white outfit, Eala, 19, was likewise immaculate in her form in completing a 2-4 comeback in the second set to seal the match, likely inspired by her rise to No. 72 in the Women’s Tennis Association world ratings released last Monday.
Next up for the Filipina top seed in the second round is Hungarian Panna Udvardy, ranked No. 137 in the world, who drew an opening-round bye in the meet offering 125 WTA ranking points and $13,355 (around P758,957) to the champion.
Looking impatient to finally put her opponent away, Eala roared back in the seventh and eighth games to deadlock the set at 4-all, limiting Koevermans to just a point in that span, including holding her serve at 40-love in the eighth set.
The Dutchwoman’s spirits flagged when she was broken in the ninth at 15-40, weakly hitting a wide forehand that paved the way for the left-handed Pinay netter to serve out the match in the next game.
Two service winners boosted Eala to match point at 40-15 but Koevermans somehow fought back to force deuce at 40-all on the former’s long backhand down the line.
Eala, however, would not be denied, whipping a crackling backhand crosscourt volley on the next shot before her game but outclassed rival finally succumbed with a netted forehand to end the set and match.
She will resume play at the start of the women’s doubles today, teaming up with American No. 2 see Kathy Volynets against Christina Rosca and Carmen Corley of the US in the first round.
