ALEX Eala got off to a winning start at the Prudential Hong Kong Tennis Open on Tuesday by dispatching last-minute substitute Emerson Jones, 6-4, 6-3.
The second seed marched on to the Round of 16 after a testy match that lasted an hour and 23 minutes, bucking a game challenge from the world No. 132 from Australia who stepped in after Alycia Parks pulled out due to an injury.
"I'm super happy with my performance. It was good match and Emerson was such a sweetheart," said the world No. 17.
READ Alex Eala climbs to No.17 in WTA rankings ahead of Hong Kong Open
Eala will now face old nemesis Tereza Valentova of Czech Republic, who swept Himeno Sakatsume of Japan, 6-3, 7-5.
Valentova has gotten the number of Eala in their previous matchups, taking the 6-1, 6-2 win in the 2025 Japan Women's Open and the 7-6, 6-1 win in the first round of the Qatar Open.
Eala, 21, made sure that she won't be denied, delivering a thunderous serve that Jones could not return to finish off the match after the audacious Aussie teenager won back-to-back games to cut the deficit to 5-3 in Set Two.
The Filipina tennis star raced to a 4-0 lead in the first set, setting the tone in the sweep where she won 61-percent of her first serves.
Parks had to withdraw from the Round of 32 match due to a right shoulder injury, opening the window for Jones, the lucky loser in the qualifiers, to come in as Eala's first round opponent.
Eala assured herself US$4,285 and 30 WTA ranking points from the victory.
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