Alex Eala recovered from a second-set stumble to beat Germany’s Mara Guth, 6-1, 5-7, 6-4, and advance in the third round of the French Open Juniors Championships Monday (early Tuesday in Manila).
Trailing 4-3 in the deciding frame after dropping her serve, the second-seeded Eala regained her composure to win the next three games and secure the victory after two hours and 12 minutes.
Match was interrupted after the second set due to rain, allowing Eala to recuperate.
The win set up Eala a date with unseeded Leyre Romero Gormaz of Spain, who downed Russia’s Diana Shnaider, 6-3, 7-5.
On paper, Eala has the edge with her current International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior ranking of No. 4, compared to Gormaz’s No. 53.
But the Spaniard, who is three years older than 15-year-old Eala, boasts of two titles in clay last year and has already been competing in the women’s circuit since 2016.
Meanwhile, Eala and partner Elina Kalieva of the United States open their doubles campaign Tuesday night against Italian pair Lisa Pigato and Eleonora Alvisi.
The match was supposed to take place Monday, but was moved a day later due to schedule delays caused by the weather condition.
Eala is seeking her second Grand Slam title after winning the 2020 Australian Open girls doubles crown with Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho last January.