By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala continued flexing her might as she trounced Dutch rival Arianne Hortono, 6-3, 6-3, to storm into the quarterfinals of the Workday Canberra International in Australia on Wednesday, Jan. 1.
The hard-hitting Eala needed 70 minutes in disposing of Hortono to inch closer to a breakthrough title in this Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) tournament.
She pounced Hortono with her strong serves, managing four aces against only two double faults, while breaking the Dutch’s service game six times to secure a Final 8 berth.
Eala’s victory arranged her a meeting with local bet Taylah Preston, who crawled back from an opening set defeat before stunning sixth seed Marina Stakusic of Canada, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1.
This would be the third time that Eala is battling Preston. They first met in the qualifying round of the 2024 Roland Garros where the Filipina standout prevailed in three sets before replicating that feat in their second meeting in the Round of 32 of the 2024 Landisville in Pennsylvania.
