Alex Eala, playing her first junior competition in three months, sizzled in the second round of the 2021 US Open junior girls’ singles.
The world no. 2 seed Eala breezed past hometown entry Charlotte Owensby, 6-3, 6-3, Wednesday at the USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York.
The 16-year-old Eala was in control all throughout their 66-minute encounter.
Eala kept Owensby scoreless in the 10th and final serve, after she forced the American to a backhand miscue.
Her win came after Eala fought her way out of a 0-2 deficit in the opening set.
After Owensby led, 3-2, Eala turned the tables and took the next four games to claim the first set.
Owensby once again took the lead, 2-0, but Eala fought back afterwards, and stayed on top with her composure.
World no. 21 Michaela Laki of Greece will be Eala’s foe in the next round.
Laki advanced to a showdown with Eala after winning over Elizabeth Coleman, 6-0, 6-4.
Eala is coming a successful junior girls’ double championship in Italy last July.
Back then, Eala won the singles’ crown in a Grade A tournament in Milan, beating Nikola Bartunkova, 6-3, 6-3.
With partner Madison Sieg of the United States, they conquered the doubles with a 6-4, 4-6, 13-11 triumph over Lucija Bagaric of Croatia and Belgian Sofia Costoulas.