Amid the anticipation surrounding the Philippines’ first-ever WTA 125 match, Alex Eala made certain to depart a gap impression — flying the flag with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 win over Alina Charaeva in only one hour and 16 minutes on Monday night at Rizal Memorial Sports activities Complicated.
The victory additionally served as redemption for Eala, who beforehand fell to Charaeva in straight units on the 2020 W15 Melilla Open.
This time round, the Filipina teenager was firmly in management from the opening ball.
Very like her latest Australian Open outings, Eala set the tone early within the first set, dictating play from the baseline and breaking Charaeva within the fourth and sixth video games to cruise to a one-sided opener.
The second set noticed a short shift in momentum, because the 163rd-ranked Russian got here out sharper and claimed the primary two video games, highlighted by a break of Eala’s serve within the second recreation.
However Eala shortly steadied herself, responding instantly together with her third break of the match by blanking Charaeva within the following recreation to reassert management.
Play was momentarily halted when Eala requested a medical timeout as a result of some discomfort earlier than the fourth recreation, briefly interrupting the rhythm of the match.
As soon as play resumed, the interruption proved to have little impact, as Eala elevated her stage and strung collectively 5 consecutive video games to shut out the competition. The run included a hard-fought fifth recreation that noticed her break Charaeva’s serve and successfully seal the match.
“Yan ang labang Pinoy ‘di ba? I imply, I do not know the place it comes from and it is simply pure,” Eala talked about concerning her drive to get higher.
By the top, Eala had transformed 5 service breaks and posted a powerful 77% profitable price on first serve, together with 61% on her second serve — underscoring her management in key factors.
“I am attempting to take it match by match and I am in a very good second in my profession. I need to say that I am going up and I am in my finest rating, particularly taking part in at residence with my household and with the ability to watch me in individual lastly and all of you guys. Kaya tuwang-tuwa syempre,” Eala on taking part in for the primary time in her residence nation.
Nonetheless, fellow Filipino bets in Tennielle Madis and Elizabeth Abarquez dropped their first spherical matches, alongside two defeats on the ladies’s doubles aspect as properly with the pairings of Angeline Alcala and Joana Victoria Pena and Justine Maneja and Kaye Emana
Up subsequent within the second spherical, Eala will face the winner of the all-Japanese matchup between Nao Hibino and Himeno Sakatsume.
