Eala scores vengeful win in strong DC Open start

Sports

ALEX Eala returned the favor in her second meeting with China’s Zheng Qinwen, pulling off a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win in a solid start of her Mubadala DC Open campaign in Washington D.C., United States on Wednesday (Philippine time), July 29.

The Filipina tennis, currently ranked No. 28 in the world–a career-high, avenged her loss to Zheng in the Hangzhou Asian Games and set up a second-round match with seventh seed Leylah Fernandez.

A Canadian of Filipino descent, the world No. 34 Fernandez booked her own slot in the next round by thrashing Polish Magda Linette, 6-1, 6-4.

Against Fernandez, Eala will be looking to score another revenge after she lost to the Canadian in the Round of 32 of the Stuttgart Open last April.

Banking on powerful serves, the world No. 123 Zheng appeared ready to impose her will on Eala anew when she took a dominant first-set win.

The unseeded Eala then survived a tight contest in the second set, breaking free from a 4-all deadlock by winning two straight games to force a deciding set.

With momentum on her side, the 21-year-old Eala went full blast in the third set, where she surged to a commanding 4-0 lead and iced the gallant win.(CCM)