By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala continued her march at the US Open Girls Singles by dispatching Natalia Vargova of Slovakia, 6-2, 6-3, in the second round Monday, Sept. 5 (Tuesday in Manila) in New York.
The 10th-seeded Eala started in business-like manner, breaking Vargova’s serve twice for a 3-1 lead before the Slovakian held serve to close the gap at 3-2.
But Eala was quick to regain her footing, winning the next three frames with several pin-point shots and backhand winners for a 1-0 set lead.
She raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set before slowing down a bit that saw the Slovakian rally to tie the count at 3-all.
That proved to be her last hurrah as Eala recovered her bearings and began to dominate the match once again.
“Solid win today,” Eala wrote on her social media after wrapping up the match in 75 minutes.
Up next for the top Filipina netter is eighth seed Taylah Preston of Australia.
Unlike Eala who breezed to the next phase, Preston needed an extra set before edging Angella Okutoyi of Kenya, 6-2, 6-7 (4), 6-1.
Both Preston and Eala campaign in the pro circuit but the former is currently ranked higher in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) juniors ranking at No. 14 – thanks to three junior titles.
Meanwhile, Eala launched her bid for a third Grand Slam Junior Doubles title when she and partner Mirra Andreeva – seeded fourth – collide with the American pair Iva Jovic and Shannon Lam.
Eala’s previous two Grand Slam Junior Doubles crowns came in the 2020 Australian Open with Indonesian partner Priska Madelyn Nugroho and in the 2021 French Open with Russian Oksana Selekhmeteva.
