FURTHER into the draw, challenges get tougher for fourth-seeded Alex Eala, now in the quarterfinal of the Suzhou 125 in China.
After surviving back-to-back three-setters—edging past Greet Minnen in the round of 16,[7-6(5), 6(3)-7, 7-5] last Wednesday and earlier beating Katarzyna Kawa in her opener, (6-3, 3-6, 7-5)—the world No. 58 now faces another seeded player in 70th-ranked Viktorija Golubic of Switzerland.
Golubic, a two-time singles titlist, is seeded sixth, two spots below Eala, and owns a career-best ranking of No. 35.
There's a first time for everything
This will be their first career meeting, with Eala 12 years younger than the Swiss veteran.
It also marks the first time in the tournament that the Filipina will face an opponent who has reached higher than her own career-best ranking of No. 56.
Eala continues her pursuit of a second WTA crown, as she enters her fourth straight quarterfinal after Guadalajara, where she captured her maiden title, Sao Paulo, and Jingshan.
Golubic, for her part, has yet to drop a set in Suzhou, dispatching Rebeka Masarova, 6-2, 6-3 in the round of 16 and Brenda Fruhvirtova, 6-2, 6-0 in the next round.
Their quarterfinal clash is scheduled not before 10:00 a.m., Manila time.
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