ALEX Eala moved a win closer to reaching the main draw of a grand slam for the first time after hurdling her first qualifying match at Wimbledon on Tuesday.
Eala survived a fiercely fought opening set to take a 7-6 (1), 6-4 win against a familiar foe in Jessika Ponchet of France as she continued to show fine form on grass.
READ Eala dispatches home bet, reaches quarterfinals of Veneto Open
In her last grand slam qualifying campaign, Eala fell one win short of the earning a place main draw in Roland Garros earlier this year.
The 19-year-old had faced Ponchet four times before, winning only once. Still, familiarity proved vital for Eala as she gained the upperhand this time.
Riding the momentum of a quarterfinals finish in the WTA event Veneto Open just last week, Eala now needs two more wins to make it to the main draw of Wimbledon.
But she faces a tough challenge in the next round against 2021 French Open semifinalist Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia.
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