Eala ousts top seed

MANILA, Philippines, April 14 ------ First-leg winner Alex Eala opened her bid for back-to-back feat with a bang, pulling off a 6-2, 6-3 upset of No. 1 seed Indy de Vroome of the Netherlands in the first round of the W25 Chiang Rai second leg in Thailand yesterday.

In-form Eala was on target in stunning the Dutch veteran, who is the WTA No. 263, in only one hour and 27 minutes to arrange a second-round duel against American Amy Zhu today. Zhu, the WTA No. 586, took care of her first assignment with a 6-3, 7-6 (6) decision over home bet Patcharin Cheapchandej.

In doubles, Eala also advanced to the quarterfinals with Japanese partner Shiho Akita after a 6-2, 6-1 victory over the Thai tandem of Salakthip Ounmuang and Pawinee Ruamrak. The Filipina-Japanese pair will shoot for a seat in the Final Four against the fourth-seed duo of Japan’s Momoko Kobori and Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum. Eala, the WTA No. 572, defeated Kobori in the quarterfinals, 6-3, 6-3, and Kumkhum in the championship, 6-4, 6-2, to win the first leg of the Thailand tourney last week.

It was Eala’s second professional title in her young career after ruling the W15 Manacor in Spain last year. Eala’s campaign in Thailand is part of her preparations for the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam next month.

Source: philstar.com