By el Amigo
Alex Eala faces an unfamiliar opponent and another test of her Asian Games medal campaign when she meets Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland in the women’s singles quarterfinals on Wednesday in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
The top-seeded Eala advanced in dominant fashion, following a first-round bye with a 6-1, 6-0 rout of Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in the round of 16.
Standing in her way is Garland, the highest-ranked women’s player from Chinese Taipei at No. 143. The 25-year-old has matched Eala’s strong start, losing only two games in her first two matches.
Garland opened with a 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Mongolia’s Martaa Chogsomjav before defeating Iran’s Mandegar Farzami, 6-1, 6-1.
The quarterfinal will mark the first competitive meeting between the two players.
Garland is not entirely unfamiliar to Filipino tennis followers. She competed in the Singapore Open after coming through the qualifiers and also played in the Philippine Women’s Open in January.
Eala is chasing another Asian Games podium finish after taking the women’s singles bronze at the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
The Filipina needs two more victories to reach the gold-medal match.
ia/xf
