Alex Eala is making the US Open look increasingly comfortable.
The 17th-seeded Filipina moved into the third round of the season’s final Grand Slam on Friday, brushing aside Oleksandra Oliynykova, 6-1, 6-4, at Louis Armstrong Stadium for her second straight-set victory in New York.
It was another composed performance from Eala, who followed her 6-1, 6-2 opening-round win over Mary Stoiana with a match built less on spectacular bursts than on sustained pressure.
The 21-year-old immediately seized control, breaking Oliynykova’s serve to move ahead 4-0. The Ukrainian answered with a break of her own, but Eala quickly restored order, closing out the opening set with two straight games.
Oliynykova made the second set more competitive, edging ahead 1-0 and 2-1 as she tried to extend the match. Eala, however, refused to let the momentum linger. She held serve, broke back, and moved ahead 3-2.
After Oliynykova leveled at 3-all, Eala won three of the next four games to close out the match in one hour and 18 minutes.
Her numbers reflected that control. Eala won 75 percent of her first-serve points and 73 percent of her second-serve points, while converting five of seven break-point opportunities.
“I think my patience and the consistency of my focus, I think those were the keys to winning the match today,” Eala said.
That patience could become increasingly valuable as the draw gets tougher.
Eala will face either Iva Jovic in the Round of 32, solidifying her advanceto No. 17 in the WTA rankings from the current 18. A championship would take her into the top 10.
For now, though, Eala is keeping her attention where it belongs.
Two rounds down, Eala has given herself every reason to keep doing the same.
