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Eala crushes Finnish foe, barges into main draw of W100 Tokyo

Sports

Eala crushes Finnish foe, barges into main draw of W100 Tokyo

By Kristel Satumbaga-Villar

At A Glance

Alex Eala blasted Finnish rival Anastasia Kulikova, 6-3, 6-3, to barge into the main draw round of the W100 Tokyo International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament in Japan on Monday, Sept. 4.

Alex Eala blasted Finnish rival Anastasia Kulikova, 6-3, 6-3, to barge into the main draw round of the W100 Tokyo International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament in Japan on Monday, Sept. 4.

alex eala afp — Alex Eala enters the main draw round of the W100 Tokyo in Japan. (File Photo/AFP)

The 18-year-old Eala took advantage of Kulikova’s strong yet erratic serves to resume her bid of a fifth pro singles title.

The Filipina was coming off a 6-4, 6-2 victory over hometown bet Kanako Morisaki in the first qualifying round.

Eala’s first main draw assignment has yet to be determined but the Rafa Nadal Academy alumna is expecting a tough competition.

World No. 81 Nao Hibino of Japan banners the field as she seeks her 13^th ITF crown and third this year.

Also battling the tournament are second seed Jule Niemeier of Germany, third seed Wang Xiyu and No. 4 Yue Yuan of China, and Australian fifth pick Kimberly Birrell.

Currently at her career-high No. 195, Eala aims for her first title in a $100,000 event.

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