FRESH from shaking off the rust after an injury break and regaining her groove, Alex Eala faces a challenge against opponent with plenty of experience in the round of 16 of the WTA 125 tournament in Guadalajara.
READ Alex Eala stays perfect vs Hartono in Guadalajara 125 debut
The 20-year-old Filipina ranked No. 75 in the world dispatched Dutch ace Arianne Hartono in a 6-2, 6-2 win that showed she is back in form after bowing out in the second round of the US Open.
Awaiting her is Varvara Lepchenko, a 39-year old American pro who once climbed to as high as No. 19 in the WTA rankings and is still capable as ever as shown in her 6-4, 6-1 win over Australia's Maddison Inglis on Wednesday.
Eala, the second seed, and Lepchenko will battle for a spot in the quarterfinals early Thursday morning, Manila time, starting 4:20 a.m.
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