By MARK REY MONTEJO
Alex Eala reaffirmed her mastery over Lucia Cortez Llorca, 7-5, 7-5, and advanced to the quarters of the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament Thursday, July 18, in Spain.
Like the first time they clashed, the game was back and forth but it was Eala who eventually prevailed – thanks to her dogged determination.
Now ranked No. 155 in the world, Eala will face Ukrainian and world No. 123 Yulia Starodubtseva in the next round.
The Ukrainian triumphed over Belgian Magali Kempen, 6-3, 6-2.
Eala also progressed in doubles as she and French partner Estelle Cascino whipped Czech Victoria Bervid and Italy’s Laura Mair, 6-4, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.
The victory arranged them a semifinal meeting with Mexican Maria Jose Portillo Ramirez and Bolivian Noelia Zeballos, who outlasted Starodubtseva and Indian Rutuja Bhosale, 6-4, 6-4.
In the other semis pairing, Ukraine’s Valeriya Strakhova and Brazil’s Eden Silva will battle Latvia’s Diana
Marcinkevica and Bulgaria’s Lia Karatancheva
The Filipina ace started her campaign in a grand fashion, beating Dutch Lian Tran, 6-4, 6-2.
Eala is fine-tuning for the coming US Open qualifiers which fires off on Aug. 26.
