Alex Eala made swift work of Australia’s Arina Rodionova, 6-2, 6-3, to clinch her second International Tennis Federation (ITF) title this year at the W25 Roehampton on Sunday night, Aug. 13, in Great Britain.
The 18-year-old Filipina tennis star was dominant from start until endgame to claim her fourth overall singles career win.
Last June before marching as a Rafa Nadal Academy scholar, Eala won the W25 Yecla crown in Spain.
Eala fought and flexed her might against top seeded players even more than a decade her senior after opening her campaign in convincing style 6-3, 6-4 against Australian qualifier Gabrielle Da Silva-Fick before escaping her doubles partner Destanee Aiava, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, to see herself through the Round of 16.
The US Open singles girls champion continued to impress in the $25,000 event after a stunning 6-2, 6-4 victory over top seed Priscilla Hon of Australia in their quarterfinals clash.
Similarly, Eala also barged into the quarterfinals of the doubles event after teaming up with Aiava, where they succumbed to Australian pair Petra Hule and Talia Gibson, 1-6, 5-7.
The former RNA scholar reached her second finals appearance this year after overcoming a stiff challenge against No. 3 seed Arianne Hortono of the Netherlands, 7 (7)-6 (4), 2-6, 6-1, in the semifinals.
In the opening set, Eala jumped to a telling 5-1 lead that saw the Aussie struggle to close the gap.
The second set was no different as Eala continued to hold her serve en route to another assuring 3-0 advantage.
The game was interrupted for a brief moment due to the rain, but there was no stopping Eala who brushed off 33-year-old Rodioniva’s late fightback, 5-3, to put the match away.
