Alex Eala continued her winning streak in style on Thursday (Manila time), storming into the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 SP Open with a commanding 6-1, 6-4 win over Argentina’s Julia Riera—her second straight-sets victory in Brazil.
The 20-year-old Filipina star showed no signs of fatigue just days after clinching her first WTA title at the Guadalajara Open 125. On the hard courts where she excels most, Eala looked sharp and confident, neutralizing Riera’s power with quick feet, clean shot selection, and court awareness beyond her years.
“I’m feeling at home here,” Eala said after the 77-minute match. “I love the atmosphere tonight.”
Home advantage or not, Eala made sure Riera never settled. She moved swiftly to cut off volleys, struck cross-court winners with precision, and kept the Argentine chasing—giving the Filipina the first four games of the match. Riera fired six aces—one at a blistering 147 kilometers per hour—but Eala controlled the rhythm, outplaying her opponent in every other department.
The numbers told the story: 68 total points won to Riera’s 45, fewer double faults (3 vs. 4), more break point conversions (5 vs. 2), and higher success on both first and second serves.
A WTA 250 tournament this year carries a prize pool of USD 275,000 and awards 250 ranking points to the champion—making every match a high-stakes opportunity for players on the rise.
Currently ranked World No. 61, Eala is seeded third in the tournament, which marks Sao Paulo’s return to WTA tennis after a 25-year absence. Before winning in Guadalajara, Eala had dropped to 75 from 70.
She opened her campaign with a 6-0, 6-2 rout of France’s Yasmine Mansouri, wrapping up that match in just over an hour.
In the quarterfinals, Eala will meet the 26-year-old Indonesian Janice Tjen, who had earlier swept her Martina Okalova, 6-1, 6-0.
Two matches, two sweeps, and no dropped sets: Eala’s momentum is building—and Brazil is watching. And so does her legions of Filipino fans scattered all over the globe.
