MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala is through to her first-ever quarterfinal appearance in a professional tournament after an upset the women's singles ITF World No. 2 in a Spain tournament.
The 15-year-old Eala took the second round win over top-seed Seone Mendez, 6-4, 6-1, on Thursday to move to quarterfinals of the ITF Rafa Nadal Academy World Tennis Tour.
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She earlier beat her Rafa Nadal Academy partner Anna Paradasi in her first professional match of the year.
Eala is off to a 2-0 start to her 2021 season after a productive 2020 where she clinched a career-high World No. 2 ranking in the ITF Junior World Rankings before slipping to No. 3 before the year ended.
The Filipina tennister's campaign last year was highlighted by a Grand Slam win in the Australian Open Girls' Doubles championship.
She also reached the semifinals in the French Open Girls Singles' tourney.
Eala plans to balance high-level junior tournaments and senior tournaments to rack up her points in the pro circuit.