(Updated) Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala turned back Chinese Zheng Qinwen, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, early Wednesday (Manila time) to arrange a second round match with defending champion Leylah Fernandez, a Canadian whose mother was born in the Philippines, in the WTA 500 Mubadala D.C. Open in Washington, USA.
World No. 28 Eala slowed down after a 2-0 start as No. 123 Zheng, who defeated the Filipino in the 2023 Asian Games semifinals, banked on her lethal serves to take the first set and grab a 4-3 lead in the second set.
Eala, however, surged from there, winning seven straight games to take the second frame and claim a commanding 4-0 lead in the third.
Zheng momentarily stopped the bleeding as she took the fifth game before Eala broke the former world no. 4's serve in the sixth and held hers in the final game to claim victory in her tournament debut.
"I think the community here in D.C. is amazing. I think there was a great atmosphere for both players and I'm really happy with my win today," said Eala in the court interview.
"He (my coach) said that I have to keep going because if I'm there every ball I'll have my chances and I did," added Eala, who finished the match in 2 hours and 26 minutes.
While Zheng packed more power in her serves with 14 aces compared to Eala's four, the Filipino proved to be more efficient as she scored 67 percent (32/48) in first serve points won and 47 percent (17/36) in second serves.
The Asian Games gold medalist, on the other hand, posted 66 percent (29/44) in first serve points won and 35 percent (17/48) in second serves.
In total, Eala made 58 percent (49/84) of her service points while Zheng logged 50 percent (47/94).
Eala's point construction was also more varied and her court coverage more successful.
Calm and collected, Eala managed to redirect Zheng's power as she broke the 2024 Olympic champ's serve six times out of 13 for a 46 percent clip.
On the other hand, Zheng broke Eala's serve four times out of 14 for a mediocre 29 percent performance.
After securing a payback win against Zheng, Eala will seek another one against world No. 34 and fellow lefty Fernandez in the second round.
Eala clashed with Fernandez at the Stuttgart Open in Germany and lost, 1-6, 4-6, last April.
"I think it's going to be a very tough match for me," Eala said of her rematch against Fernandez, who defeated Polish Magda Linette in the first round, 6-1, 6-4.
"Leyla is such an amazing player and an amazing person as well. So I think right now my first priority is to recover, take care of my body so that I can arrive in the best shape possible for me," Eala said.