By MARK REY MONTEJO
Alex Eala got off to a fine start as she reaffirmed her mastery over Arriane Hartono of the Netherlands, 6-2, 6-1, in the first round of the ITF W100 Bengaluru in India Wednesday, Jan. 22.
Weeks after her early exit in Australian Open qualifiers, the 19-year-old Eala showed no mercy throughout her one-hour showdown against the much-older Hartono, who the Filipina beat twice before their encounter on Indian territory.
With her win, Eala arranged a second round clash with Slovenian qualifier Dalila Jakupovic, who earned her second round ticket with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 win over Russian Elena Pridankina (7-6, 3-6, 6-3).
The No. 5 seed Eala grabbed the tempo after securing the first two games but the Dutch fought back to level the count at 2-2.
It proved to be Hartono’s last gallant stand as Eala pressed her attack to take the next four games and a 1-0 advantage.
Eala continued her onslaught in the second frame where she raced to a commanding 5-0 lead which was enough to take the fight out of Hartono.
Meanwhile, Eala’s SEA region rival in Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew was booted out by her compatriot Lanlana Tararudee, 6-4, 6-0.
Also taking part in the tournament as a No. 1 seed is veteran Tatjana Maria of Germany – the one who outlasted Eala, 7-5, 6-2, in the second round of the Guadalajara 125 Open last year.
