JINGSHAN TENNIS OPEN: Eala dumps Japanese rival to advance to quarters

Sports

ALEX Eala booked a quarterfinal ticket by scoring an easy 6-0, 6-3 win over Japan’s Mei Yamaguchi to advance to the quarterfinal round of the WTA 125 Jingshan Tennis Open in China.

Eala stayed hot after starting her campaign with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Belarusian Aliona Falei last Tuesday. The 20-year-old rising star remained sharp in the Round of 16, blanking Yamaguchi in the first frame that set the tone for the one-sided win.

In the quarterfinals, Eala, ranked No. 58 in the world, will take on China’s Jia-Jing Lu.

Eala has earned her second straight quarterfinal appearance after also making it to the Final 8 in the Sao Paulo Open in Brazil. Before that playoff run in Brazil, Eala made history when she pocketed her first-ever WTA title by ruling the Gualdalajara Open in Mexico.

Lu sealed her own quarterfinal berth by dispatching India’s Riya Bhatia, 6-4, 6-0, in their own Round of 16 duel.

The 35-year-old Lu advanced to the Round of 16 by chalking up a tight 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 6-4 win over Russian Ekaterina Reyngold in the opening round.

Lu is currently ranked No. 349 in the world. With a career-high singles ranking of 162, Lu has won 18 titles in singles and 28 in doubles on the ITF Circuit.(CCM)