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Eala dumps rival in first qualifying match in Tunisia

Sports

Eala dumps rival in first qualifying match in Tunisia

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

At A Glance

Alex Eala returned to the competition scene on a high note with a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of hometown bet Feryel Ben Hassen in the first qualifying round match at the Jasmin Open Monastir in Tunisia on Saturday, Oct. 14.

Alex Eala returned to the competition scene on a high note with a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of hometown bet Feryel Ben Hassen in the first qualifying round match at the Jasmin Open Monastir in Tunisia on Saturday, Oct. 14.

alex eala — Alex Eala competes in her first tournament since winning two bronze medals at the 19^th Asian Games. (File Photo/Alex Eala Facebook)

The 18-year-old Eala did not waste time unleashing crisp shots to send her lesser-ranked rival scrambling for returns.

The victory arranged Eala a crucial meeting with Elsa Jacquemot of France, who thumped Spain’s Irene Burillo Escorihuela, 6-3, 6-4.

Another win would earn Eala a spot in the main draw round of this $250,000 Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) event.

Jacquemot, 20, is ahead of Eala on paper with a WTA ranking of No. 172. The Filipina teen sensation, for her part, is at No. 194.

The French netter also boasts of a Round of 64 finish at the 2022 Roland Garros.

The main draw has world No. 31 and top seed Jasmine Paolini, France’s Alice Cornet, doubles specialist and second seed Elise Mertens of Belgium and world No. 42 Martina Trevisan also of Italy, to name a few.

This is Eala’s first tournament in the women’s circuit since winning bronze medals in the singles and mixed doubles at the 19^th Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.

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