Alex Eala survives scare vs. Falei, advances to Round of 16 after straight set win

Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala opened her Jingshan Open campaign in China with a gritty performance, overcoming Belarusian youngster Aliona Falei in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5, to book a spot in the Round of 16.

Eala, ranked No. 57 in the world and the tournament’s top seed, looked sharp out of the gate. She dictated the pace early, racing to a commanding 3-0 lead in the first set.

 Falei managed to claw back two games to cut the deficit to 4-2, but the 20-year-old Eala steadied herself, mixing heavy groundstrokes with tactical patience to close out the frame, 6-3.

The second set, however, told a different story. Falei, ranked No. 322, dug deep and matched Eala’s shot-making with fearless baseline rallies.

 Both players held firm until the score reached 4-all, setting up a nervy stretch. 

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

A STRONG START BY ALEX ⁰

JUST IN: Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala advances to the Round of 16 of the Jingshan Tennis Open in China after defeating Aliona Falei of Belarus in her opening match, 6-3, 7-5!

Follow #GMASports for more updates. pic.twitter.com/bvYifUhWZK

— GMA Sports (@gmasportsph) September 23, 2025

Eala broke through in a marathon ninth game to inch ahead, 5-4, only for Falei to storm back with a dominant service game that blanked the Filipina and leveled the score at 5-all.

But with the pressure rising, Eala showed why she is regarded as one of the brightest young stars on tour. 

She broke Falei’s serve once more and then served out the match with authority, sealing a 7-5 second-set victory and the straight-sets win.

The triumph marks Eala’s first match since her quarterfinal run at the São Paulo Open and comes on the heels of her breakthrough title at the WTA 125 Guadalajara Open. 

The Rafa Nadal Academy graduate is seeking her second WTA crown and aims to continue building momentum in her Asian swing after stints in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil.

At just 20 years old, Eala has already carved her name in Philippine sports history as the highest-ranked Filipino singles player in the modern era. 

With her Round of 16 berth secured, she remains on track to add another deep tournament run — and possibly another championship — to her growing résumé.

Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

  Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and be part of a growing community of passionate basketball fans!