By Kristel Satumbaga
Alex Eala makes it into the third round of the Australian Open Juniors. (From Rafa Nadal Academy Facebook page)
Philippines’ top junior netter Alex Eala kept her ambitious Grand Slam title campaign alive at the 2020 Australian Open Junior Championships on Tuesday after winning her singles and doubles matches in Melbourne.
Eala, 14, first recovered from a second-set stumble and bested Julie Belgraver of France 6-0, 3-6, 6-1 to barge into the singles third round.
The win came a day after she and Indonesian partner Priska Madelyn Nugroho survived a tough 7-5, 4-6, 10-8 victory over Elina Avanesyan of Russia and Liubov Kostenko of Ukraine in the girls doubles opening round.
Eala and Nugroho currently play Belgraver and Slovakia’s Pia Lovric in the second round at press time.
Eala’s singles victory, meanwhile, set her up a third-round match against Hong Kong’s Hong Yi Cody Wong, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 winner over Kostenko.
It is Eala’s best performance at the Grand Slam so far, surpassing her debut appearance at the 2019 US Open where she only made it in the second round.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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