ALEX Eala is on track to make her debut in a seniors Grand Slam, as she won her first match in the qualifiers of the US Open on Tuesday (Wednesday morning, Manila time).
Eala, coming off back-to-back quarterfinals appearances in two US tournaments, drubbed Australia’s Maddison Ingils in three sets, 6-3, 2-6, 6-1, to move two wins away from the main draw.
The 19-year-old pounced on Inglis’ errant service game as the latter accumulated 10 double faults in the three-set match.
Eala’s win set her up with a tough challenge against 15-seed Nuria Parrizas-Diaz in the second round of qualifiers on Wednesday (Thursday morning, Manila time).
One last try for Alex in 2024
This is Eala’s last chance this year to qualify for the first time to the main draw of a pro Grand Slam tournament.
The Rafa Nadal Academy scholar fell one win short twice earlier this year, as she was in the third round of qualifiers of both the French Open and Wimbledon.
As a junior player, she won the 2022 US Open Girls’ Singles, while also having two doubles titles in the Australian Open and the French Open in 2020 and 2021, respectively.
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