Alex Eala advanced to the Round of 16 at the Prudential Hong Kong Open on Tuesday. However, her straight-sets win over Australian lucky loser Emerson Jones included enough untidy moments to suggest she still has work to do.
The second-seeded Filipino won 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 23 minutes, overcoming a spirited challenge from the 18-year-old Jones, ranked No. 132, who entered the main draw at short notice after Alycia Parks withdrew with a right shoulder injury. Jones had lost in qualifying before getting another shot as a lucky loser, and made the most of it.
Eala made a brisk start, opening a 3-0 lead in the first set before Jones broke back and narrowed the gap to 4-3. The Australian’s resistance exposed some familiar irritants in Eala’s game. The left-hander’s serve toward the right side of the court remained troublesome, with a costly double fault adding to the pressure, while her usually dependable forehand was not firing with its customary authority.
Still, Eala regrouped and closed out the opening set, then appeared to take firmer control in the second. She secured two breaks to build a 5-1 cushion, seemingly putting the match beyond Jones’ reach.
But the finish was not entirely straightforward. Back-to-back double faults gave Jones an opening to recover one break and pull within 5-3. Eala, however, avoided another wobble, held serve in the final game and secured her place in the next round.
The victory was useful rather than immaculate. Eala, who reached a career-high No. 17 in the WTA rankings this week, will need a more reliable serve and sharper forehand against Czech teenager Tereza Valentová.
Valentová advanced with a 6-3, 7-5 win over Japanese qualifier Himeno Sakatsume and holds a 2-0 advantage over Eala in their WTA head-to-head. Their Round of 16 meeting on Thursday therefore presents a considerably tougher examination.
Eala has advanced. The next task is to make her tennis as convincing as the result.
