By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala stunned eighth seed Julia Riera of Argentina, 6-3, 6-1, to jumpstart her title campaign in the Cary Tennis Classic in North Carolina on Tuesday, Aug. 13.
The unseeded Eala overpowered her higher-ranked rival with superb shots, winning six of eight break points to advance to the second round of the $100,000 International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament.
The victory set up the 19-year-old Eala a meeting with a familiar opponent in Russian qualifier Oksana Selekhmeteva, who trounced fellow qualifier Hina Inoue of the United States, 6-4, 6-2.
It can be recalled that Eala and Selekhmeteva teamed up during their junior years three years ago to capture the French Open Girls’ doubles title.
It’s a different case this time, as both players found themselves on different sides of the court for the fourth time in the ITF circuit since first meeting in the W15 Manacor in 2021.
Eala, though, has yet to win against Selekhmeteva after yielding in their first three matchups — the last in the W60 Canberra in January last year in Australia where the PH bet succumbed in three sets.
Eala has a higher Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles ranking at No. 144 compared to the Russian’s No. 197.
