Alex Eala recovered from a first-set hiccup and turned back American Victoria Hu, 3-6, 7-6 (2), 6-4, at the start of the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico on Monday, Sept. 2.

The unseeded Eala survived Hu’s hard serves and squeaked past in the second-set tiebreaker before setting the tone in the third frame to advance to the second round of this Women’s Tennis Professionals (WTA) 125 tournament.

The 22-year-old Hu actually fired 16 aces -- five each in the second and third sets -- but Eala stepped on her own game in the last set by holding her serve en route to the victory.

The win, which came after two hours and 38 minutes of action, arranged Eala a next meeting with a tougher rival in world No. 99 Tatjana Maria of Germany, who walloped American Kayla Day, 7-6 (7), 6-4.

At 37, Maria boasts of a wide experience including a best Grand Slam finish of a semifinals in the Wimbledon two years ago. She was coming off a second-round finish at the US Open.

Eala also saw action in the US Open, but came one win away from earning a main draw berth.