Eala welcomes new year with WTA Canberra International quarters berth

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala is starting the new year with a bang, crashing into the quarterfinals of the WTA Canberra International after sweeping Arianne Hartono, 6-3, 6-3, Wednesday in Australia.

Eala needed just an hour and 10 minutes to defeat her 28-year-old opponent, as she dominated every aspect of the match.

The 19-year-old Filipina recorded 35 service points won compared to the 165th-ranked tennister’s 26, while also winning 23 receiving points.

Eala waxed hot right from the get-go, winning the first three games before Hartono bagged the next two.

While the Asian Games bronze medalist inched to within set point after winning the next two games, Hartono kept herself alive with a great performance in the eighth game.

Eala, though, was too much as she thwarted the Dutch’s comeback attempt.

And in the second set, both tennisters exchanged wins to go on a 3-3 deadlock.

The Filipina, however, blanked Hartono the rest of the way to punch a ticket to the next round.

The World No. 147 will be facing Australia’s Taylah Preston in the quarterfinal round on Thursday.

Prior to winning over Hartono, Eala barged into the main draw of the tourney after defeating hometown bets Catherine Aulia and Alana Subasic in the qualifiers.

She then swept Austria’s Sinja Kraus in the round of 32.