ALEX EALA repulsed Australia’s Taylah Preston, 6-2, 7-6 (1), to advance to the quarterfinals of the US Open juniors division Wednesday at the US Tennis Association Billie Jean King Center in New York.
After a first-set cruise where she zoomed to 5-1 for the go-ahead, Eala, 17, found herself down, 2-4, in the second set but rallied to make it 4-4.
The match went tight and headed to a tiebreak, but the No. 10 Eala banked on an aggressive forehand to snare the win.
Ironically, Eala will face her doubles partner, Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in the quarterfinals.
Eala, bronze medalist at the 31st Hanoi Southeast Asian Games last May, and Andreeva beat Americans Shannon Lam and Iva Jovic, 6-2, 6-2, to also reach the girls’ doubles quarterfinals.
Eala and Andreeva take on Carolina Kuhl and Ella Seidel in the quarterfinals.
Eala is No. 290 in the Women Tennis Association rankings, but is No. 2 in the juniors behind Russian Diana Schnaider.
Image credits: Troi Santos
