Fourteen-year-old Alexandra Eala and her brother Miko got off to a great start yesterday in the 2020 AGL Loy Yang Traralgon Junior International Tennis Tournament in Victoria, Australia.
Eala, coached by Daniel Gomez of the Rafa Nadal Academy, pulled off a 6-1, 6-2 win over Hungarian netter Amarisa Toth in the first round.
Seeded fourth in the tournament, Eala advanced to the second round for a clash with China’s Na Dong, a qualifying round entry.
The world no. 9 ranked Eala missed a days’ practice after Australian officials suspended practice on Wednesday.
Officials warned that smoke and haze from regional wild fires affected the playing conditions of the tournament early this week.
Elder brother Miko made it past the first round in the boys singles when he disposed of Jeremy Lin of Australia, 6-2, 6-2, in the first qualifying round of the boys’ singles.
But Mike did not advance to the main after Corban Crowther of New Zealand held him down with 6-3, 6-7(3), 10-8 triumph in the second round.
Dong arranged a clash with Eala following a 7-5, 6-4 edging of Australian Tylah Preston.
Polina Kudermetova of Russia and Slovenian Pia Lovric also joined Eala and Dong in the second round.
Kudermetova waylaid Australian Amy Stevens, 6-4, 6-2, while Lovric eased out Julia Belgaver of France, 6-4, 6-2.
The netfest is Eala’s way of preparing for her participation the 2020 Australian Open.
