Alex Eala soaring high in Mumbai.
Alex Eala made a statement in her WTA 125 Mumbai debut, kicking off her campaign with a commanding 6-1, 6-0 victory over Japan’s Sara Saito at the Cricket Club in India on Monday.
The 19-year-old Filipino needed just 61 minutes to dismantle Saito, advancing smoothly to the round of 16 in her fifth tournament of the year.
Eala’s dominant performance followed a challenging start to her 2023 season, as she faced a setback in her Australian Open debut earlier in January. Despite a tough exit, Eala vowed to bounce back, and this win marks a strong step in that direction.
Looking ahead, she will meet either Mia Hontama or Nao Hibino, as the Japanese duo faces off in the round of 32.
This victory also marked Eala’s second consecutive win over Saito, having edged her out in a thrilling 6-1, 6-7 (1-7), 7-5 battle during the Singapore Open qualifiers just last week.
Despite her loss in the main draw of the Singapore Open and a premature exit at the W100 Bengaluru, her strong start in Mumbai shows she’s back on track.
After a rollercoaster beginning to the season, Alex Eala is clearly finding her rhythm, and the young talent’s determination continues to shine as she looks to make an impact in India and beyond.