By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala shocked top seed Seone Mendez of Australia, 6-4, 6-1, and barged into her first quarterfinal appearance in a pro tournament at the ITF Manacor in Spain on Thursday.
Eala, who entered the $15,000 event as a junior reserve, needed one hour and 20 minutes in ousting her highly-touted rival.
The Aussie is ranked No. 2 in the International Tennis Federation.
The 15-year-old PH top junior player had trouble with her serve against Mendez after double faulting five times, but still managed to win five break points.
Despite her erratic serves, Eala was on target with her passing shots.
The victory set up Eala a Final 8 meeting with fifth seed Carole Monnet of France, who dispatched Spain’s Alba Carrillo Marin, 6-3, 6-1.
Monnet, 19, is currently ranked No. 14 in the ITF and No. 403 in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), while Eala is at No. 1651 in the ITF and No. 1187 in the WTA.
