Alex Eala again made heads turn in the in the international women’s professional circuit.
The 15-year-old Eala stunned world women’s no. 2 and top seeded Seone Mendez of Australia, 6-4, 6-1, in the second round of the W15 Manacor ITF tournament on Thursday evening.
After racing to a 3-0 start in the opening set and letting Mendez tie the score at 4-4, Eala took the last two points in the first set of their 80-minute encounter.
Eala went on to claim the win by taking points on 33 out 49 first serves.
The tournament, which is a Rafa Nadal Academy-sponsored event, will have Eala advancing to the quarterfinals against Carole Monet of France.
Eala’s win was one of three big upsets that day, with world junior girls' no. 2 Victoria Kasintseva and fourth seed Alice Rame also dropping out.
Emilia Arango ousted Kasintseva, 6-1, 6-2, while Jean Jean eased out Rame, 6-3, 6-4.
Second seed Simona Waltert of Switzerland also made it to the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-2, triumph over Tess Sugnaux.
Eala, whose Women’s Tennis Association ranking has gone up to 1180 from 1594, is now seeking her best finish in the professional competition.
Now on her fifth pro tournament, Eala recently made it to the first round of the W15 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
Last Tuesday, Eala eked out a 6-1, 6-2 win over Italian foe Anna Paradisi in the opener.