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Alex Eala books main draw seat in French tourney

Sports

Alex Eala books main draw seat in French tourney

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

Alex Eala dumped hometown bet Diana Martynov, 6-1, 6-2, to book a main draw berth in the W80 Poitiers tournament Monday, Oct. 24, in France.

Alex Eala will face a familiar foe in Jessika Ponchet of France in her first round match. (File photo from Alex Eala's Facebook page)

The 17-year-old junior tennis sensation unleashed her superb baseline game to dictate the pace throughout the match.

It was the second straight win for Eala, who needed to go to the qualifiers. Interestingly, her first qualifying match against another French bet in Astrid Cirotte produced the same result.

The lopsided affair arranged Eala a first round date with another Frenchwoman in Jessika Ponchet.

Interestingly, this would be the third time that Eala and Ponchet would be meeting in the pro circuit with the Filipina bowing in their first two matchups.

They first dueled in the second round of the W25+H Palma del Rio in Spain last June, where Ponchet won, 6-2, 6-1.

They next battled in the W60 Vitoria-Gasteiz also in Spain in July, where the Frenchwoman prevailed, 6-4, 6-4.

This time, Eala hopes her familiarity with the 26-year-old Ponchet would avenge her earlier losses and boost her bid for a third pro title.

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