TOP-SEEDED Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala will be the heavy favorite when she faces defensive-minded Japanese Mei Yamaguchi today for a quarterfinals spot in the Jinghshan Tennis Open in Jinghshan, China.
It will be interesting to see if Eala, currently ranked No. 58 in the Women’s Tennis Association world ratings, has fully recovered from the injury scare during her opening round 6-3, 7-5 win over Aliona Falei two days ago, when she faces Yamaguchi (No. 269) around noon today.
In boxing terms, it will be a battle between a young slugger and a veteran counterpuncher when the two protagonists face each other for the first time in the WTA 125 tournament with 125 WTA ranking points and $15,500 (about P890,000) up for grabs.
Behind a booming top-spin forehand and elegant all-around game, Eala, 20, could be a handful for Yamaguchi, 26, who will rely more on her experience and consistency in hopes of pulling off an upset.
The huge question mark, however, is how fit the Filipina netter would be after she was forced to call for a medical timeout in the second set against Falei to treat a cramping right leg that seemingly limited her movement the rest of the match.
But if Eala can impose her will early today against the diminutive Yamaguhi, who is six inches shorter than her 5-foot-9 rival, there is no reason why the Filipina sports star cannot make her fifth WTA quarterfinals.
