By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala crushed her fellow unseeded rival to arrange what could be a thrilling quarterfinal showdown with former world No. 1 in doubles in Sara Errani at the Veneto Open in Gaiba, Italy on Thursday, June 20.
The 19-year-old Eala overpowered local bet and world No. 307 Giorgia Pedone, 6-3, 6-3, for her first-ever quarterfinal appearance in a Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) event.
But her skills will be put to test anew as she faces hometown star and fourth seed Errani, who survived the gritty plays of Ukraine’s Katarina Zavatska, 7-6 (4), 7-5.
This wouldn’t be the first time that Eala and Errani will be facing each other.
The Filipina tennis sensation hopes to duplicate her previous feat against the five-time Grand Slam doubles champion at the first qualifying round of the Miami Open last March where she prevailed 6-3, 6-1.
Her latest performance is also a big boost in her bid for the qualifying round of the 2024 Wimbledon set on July 1.
Prior to beating Pedone, Eala opened her campaign in her second grass tournament with a 6-3, 7-5 triumph over France’s Carole Monnet.
