By MARK REY MONTEJO
In another great display of brute power, third-ranked Alex Eala continued her hot streak, cruising past Frenchwoman Yasmine Mansouri, 6-0, 6-2, to advance to the second round of the São Paulo Open in Brazil Wednesday morning, Sept. 10 (Philippine time).
Emboldened by her title win in WTA 125 Guadalajara Open in Mexico over the weekend, the world No. 61 Eala came out smoking in her return to WTA 250 action to prevail just like a walk in the park.
With her rousing triumph in Round of 32, the 20-year-old Eala arranged a Last 16 showdown with Argentina’s Julia Riera, who booked her ticket via a 6-3, 7-6(1) win over Russian Vitalia Diatchenko.
This would mark the third time that Eala would be facing Riera after the two clashed in last year’s Roland Garros (third qualifying round) and W100 Cary (first round).
The No. 3 seed Eala bowed to the unseeded Argentinian in their first face-off in the qualifiers of the French Open, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, but managed to bounce back by notching a 6-3, 6-1 victory at the opener of Cary tiff.
Unlike in past matches, Eala was at her best in the opening set where she mixed her shots well to baffle her rival.
The 5-foot-9 lefty was tested by the unseeded Mansouri early in the second set but she managed to wiggle out in tight condition to prevail.
Clearly, Eala was a cut above the Frenchwoman she coasted to victory with nary a trouble from there on.
