Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala breezed through to the Round of 16 in the US Open Girls’ singles after besting hometown bet Charlotte Owensby, 6-3, 6-3, in New York on Tuesday (Wednesday, Manila time).
Bucking a slow start after a bye in the first round, the 16-year-old Eala went down 0-2 early but she shifted momentum by eventually taking the lead and winning the first set.
She again fell 0-2 in the second set but took the six of the next seven games to ensure the win.
In the Round of 16, she will face Michaela Laki of Greece, who won against USA’s Elizabeth Coleman, 6-0, 6-4, in the second round.
Eala is the lone Filipina juniors playing in the world tennis while another head-turner, Filipina-Canadian Leylah Fernandez is making waves after entering the semifinals with a win over Elina Svitolina in the women singles. Fernandez earlier bested champions Naomi Osaka and Angelique Kerber in previous rounds. (Villamor Visaya Jr.)
