Alex Eala Storms Into Sao Paulo Open Quarterfinals

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by Misha Cruz

Filipina tennis star Alex Eala cruises to the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-4 beating of Argentina's Julia Riera.
Filipina tennis star Alex Eala cruises to the quarterfinals of the Sao Paulo Open with a 6-1, 6-4 beating of Argentina's Julia Riera. Photo: WTA.

Alex Eala’s South American campaign just keeps getting better! The Filipina tennis star punched her ticket to the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 Sao Paulo Open, dismantling Argentina’s Julia Riera, 6-1, 6-4, on Thursday morning (PH time).

Seeded third in the tournament, the 20-year-old wasted no time taking control of the match. Eala cruised through the first set with ease, then kept her composure as Riera tried to mount a fightback in the second. In just 1 hour and 17 minutes, the Filipina sensation sealed the deal with another strong statement win.

But the road only gets tougher from here. Standing in her way is Janice Tjen of Indonesia, who enters their showdown riding high after a near-flawless 6-0, 6-1 demolition of Martina Okalova that lasted a mere 52 minutes.

This will be the first-ever clash between Eala and Tjen on the WTA stage — and tennis fans are in for a treat. Both players recently made history at the US Open: Eala became the first Filipina to capture a Grand Slam singles victory, while Tjen broke a 22-year drought for Indonesia with a main-draw win. Though their magical runs ended in the second round, both carried that confidence into Sao Paulo.

Argentina's Julia Riera.
Argentina's Julia Riera. Photo: SP Open.

On paper, Eala holds the upper hand with her world No. 61 ranking, compared to Tjen’s peak of No. 130. But the 23-year-old Indonesian is no pushover. With her background in the US collegiate system (University of Oregon and Pepperdine), plus 13 ITF singles and six doubles titles, Tjen’s experience and grit make her a dangerous opponent.

Eala, of course, has her own arsenal: five ITF singles crowns, three doubles trophies, and most recently, her maiden WTA championship at Guadalajara. That breakthrough victory cemented her status as one of the hottest young names on the women’s tour.

Indonesia's Janice Tjen.
Indonesia's Janice Tjen. Photo: AP. 

With momentum on her side and the Filipino crowd rallying behind her from across the globe, Eala now has her eyes set firmly on a semifinal berth. The question is — can she keep this unstoppable run alive?

Alex Eala.
Alex Eala. Photo: SP Open.