Alex Eala on track toward Open main draw

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala pulled off a tough 6-3, 7-5 victory over American Kimmi Hance to stay on track of a dream stint in the main draw of the US Open juniors girls’ singles at the Cary Leeds Match Court 3 in New York Friday.

“I’m very happy that I won. I was very nervous at the start but after a while, I was able to play my game,” said the 14-year-old Eala, who bucked seven double faults and the same number of unforced errors by finishing with 79 points won as against Hance’s 59.

Eala posted a 68 percent clip (26-of-38) in first serve won and 56 percent (14-of-25) in second serve won. She also finished 4 of 8 in break points won and made 33-of-69 in receiving points won.

Hance, 16, ended up with 24-of-45 on first serve, 12-of-24 on second serve, 2 of 6 in break points won and 23-of-63 in receiving points won. She also had eight double faults and made eight unforced errors.

Eala, however, will have her hands full in her next match as she faces no less than top seed Romana Cisovska of Slovakia, who disposed of American Jenna DeFalco, 7-5, 6-3, in their side of the qualifying duel.

Another victory will catapult the young Filipina hopeful to the main draw of the elite tournament for the world’s leading and rising players from the 18-and-under category.

Arthur Pantino, meanwhile, dropped a 4-6, 3-6 setback to German Milan Welte in the boys’ qualifying phase.