By el Amigo
MANILA — Alex Eala showcased her trademark grit and composure by mounting a thrilling comeback victory over China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the second round of the Mubadala DC Open in Washington, D.C.
After dropping the opening set, the Filipina tennis sensation stormed back to defeat the Olympic champion, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, in her tournament debut on Wednesday.
Eala looked sharp early, racing to a 2-0 lead in the first set. However, Zheng quickly found her footing and capitalized on key opportunities to wrest momentum away from the Filipina and take the set.
The world No. 28 refused to be rattled. In the second set, she engaged Zheng in a closely fought contest before winning three straight games from a 3-4 deficit to force a deciding frame.
The final set belonged entirely to Eala. She dictated the pace from the baseline, winning four consecutive games to put Zheng under pressure. The Chinese star’s growing number of unforced errors proved costly as Eala sealed the victory dominantly.
The Filipina credited the enthusiastic crowd in Washington for creating an electric atmosphere during the match.
“My coach said that I have to keep going because if I’m there every ball, I’ll have my chances. And I did,” Eala said.
Although Zheng produced more aces and winners throughout the match, her 46 unforced errors significantly outweighed Eala’s disciplined performance. The Filipina committed only 25 unforced errors and capitalized on her opponent’s mistakes at crucial moments.
Eala’s reward is a second-round meeting with defending women’s singles champion Leylah Fernandez, one of the tournament’s toughest competitors.
The Canadian defeated Eala earlier this year at the Stuttgart Open, adding another layer of intrigue to their upcoming encounter.
Despite the challenge, Eala remains focused on preparation and recovery as she continues her impressive run on the WTA Tour.
“I’ll focus on recovering and making sure I’m in the best condition possible for the next match,” she said.
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