By MARK REY MONTEJO
Alex Eala advanced to the main draw of the 2024 WTA Guangzhou Open with an impressive 6-2, 6-2 win over Russian Elena Pridankina on Monday, Oct. 21.
Eala bewildered the Russian from almost all angles, what with her array of booming shots to ease into the round of 32 of the week-long tournament that gives $35,250 (roughly P2 million) to the winner apart from the 250 WTA points.
The hard-hitting Eala made her desire known to everyone when she outlasted hometown bet Xinyu Gao in the opening round 6-2, 6-7 (3), 6-2.
Showing none of the brilliance that enabled her to stun world No. 91 Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtseva, Pridankina proved to be an easy customer for Eala.
The win was a huge relief for Eala following botched attempts in the WTA’s 1000 Ningbo and 250 Wuhan Opens.
Eala, who is currently ranked No. 147 in the world, needs to raise her game a notch a higher as she would be facing much dangerous rivals in the main draw.
Other noted players entered in the main draw are French veteran Jessika Ponchet, 9-time Grand Slam doubles champ Katerina Siniakova, and China’s Yue Yuan and defending titlist Xiyu Wang.
