DESPITE her semifinal exit in the Jingshan Tennis Open over the weekend, Alex Eala retained her No. 58 ranking in the Women’s Tennis Association ratings released yesterday as she swings back into action against a familiar foe in the Suzhou Open WTA 125 today in Suzhou, China.
Seeded fourth, Eala, who lost 6-3, 4-6, 2-6 to Lulu Sun of New Zealand in the semis in Jingshan, will face Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa (No. 124), who reached the second round of the Abierto Zapopan Open in Zapopan, Mexico, at the new Sungent International Tennis Center.
Kawa, 32, was eliminated in the second round of the same meet ruled by the Filipina tennis sensation by Colombia’s Emiliana Arango.
Sun went on to capture the Jingshan Tennis Open singles trophy by routing hometown bet Ma Yexin 6-4, 6-2 in the finals and was set to face American teener Iva Jovic, 17, the No. 1 seed and ranked No. 37 in the world, in the first round.
Eala’s Polish opponent has a career-best of No. 112 in the world ratings and counts grass and clay as her preferred surface, which should give the Pinay netter an edge since she excels on hardcourt conditions such as the present tournament.
Seeded second in the competition offering a top prize of $8,400 (about P487,939) and 125 WTA ranking points is veteran German Maria Tatjana, 38, (No. 44), while Dutchwoman Suzan Lamens (No. 57), 26, is seeded third.
Among those in the field is Indonesian Janice Tjen, who beat Eala in the semifinals of the Sao Paulo Open more than three weeks ago in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
