Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala, who has risen further up in the live rankings, is set to meet Croatia’s Ana Konjuh in the quarterfinals of the Women’s Tennis Association W80 Poitiers Tournament in France.
After the 17-year-old Eala repulsed Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia, 6-4, 6-3, on Thursday, Konju pulled off an upset win over third seed Xinyu Wang, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the women’s singles Round of 16.
Eala, who is now ranked no. 228 in live Women’s Tennis Association’s rankings, reached the Round of 8 after easing out Diatchenko in their 83-minute contest.
Last Wednesday, Eala won over French Jessika Ponchet in three sets, 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(6).
Eala won 23 points out of 31 first serves that went in while battling it out with Diatchenko.
She broke serve in the fifth and held on the sixth, 4-2, after taking a 30-15 edge, and won game point, after recovering from a double fault.
Earlier, Eala and her Croatian partner bowed to no.3 seed Miriam Kolodziejova and Marketa Vondrousova of Czech Republic, 7-5, 6-2, in the women’s doubles.