Alex Eala within the WTA Thailand Open. –THAILAND OPEN
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala marched to the principle draw of the Thailand Open as she swept Kristina Dmitruk of Belarus, 6-2, 7-5, within the second spherical of qualifiers on Sunday at True Enviornment in Hua Hin.
After a dominant first-set win, the 17-year-old Eala displayed grace underneath stress within the second set when the ninth-seed Dmitruk was on the verge of forcing a decider with a 6-5 lead.
However the Filipino prodigy pulled via successful two consecutive video games to shut out the final part of qualifiers in 77 minutes.
Eala, who just lately rose to her career-best rating within the Ladies’s Tennis Affiliation because the World No. 214, barged via the principle draw of the $250,000 match.
The Thailand Open, which begins on Monday and ends on February 5, options the highest feminine netters on this planet, led by prime seed Bianca Andreescu of Canada.
It is going to be her third fundamental draw look within the WTA match because the reigning US Open women singles champion reached the second spherical of the WTA Winners Open in Romania and the Miami Open final yr.
The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar got here off an early exit within the qualifying spherical of the 2023 Australian Open together with her first Grand Slam look as a professional was ended by Japan’s Misaki Doi in early January.
Thailand Open is Eala’s fifth WTA occasion, together with qualifying draw appearances within the 2021 Miami Open and final yr’s Madrid Open in Spain.
Get the most well liked sports activities information straight into your inbox
Learn Subsequent
Subscribe to INQUIRER PLUS to get entry to The Philippine Each day Inquirer & different 70+ titles, share as much as 5 devices, hearken to the information, obtain as early as 4am & share articles on social media. Name 896 6000.