Alex Eala wraps up ITF USA tourney with quarterfinal finish

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala concluded another International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament on a high note after reaching the quarterfinals of the Koser Jewelers Tennis Challenge in Landisville, Pennsylvania.

Picking up momentum during her historic performance at the ITF Spain 24A when she bagged the championship title in the doubles category, Eala was close to pushing hard deep into the playoffs in Pennsylvania but her campaign was halted at the quarterfinals against Olivia Gadecki- 6.1, 0.6, 6.3-.

Eala bounced back after dropping the first set, sweeping her Australian foe after bursting out with her forehand power to dominate the second frame.

However, just when Eala thought she could bring back shades of her outing in Spain, Gadecki displayed a calmer approach in the third that neutralized the Filipina’s power to advance to the semifinal round.

After an error-plagued second set for Gadecki, the veteran ace flipped the switch in the third and final period when she asserted her court mastery and outplayed the young Eala with her varied offensive approach.

Despite the quarterfinal loss, Eala still had a bright campaign during the tournament when she took down her first two opponents to clinch a quarterfinal berth.

Eala first swept Mary Stoiana of America, 7-5, 6-2, during the Round of 32 phase, and followed it up with another commanding victory in the Round of 16 against Taylah Preston, 7-5, 6-1.

Against Stoiana and Preston, Eala was in her groove all day long and showcased her power in the baseline exchanges.

Both seeded players stood no chance against Eala, who is also expected to boost her Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) singles ranking after another quarterfinal finish in the ITF circuit.