Alex Eala overcame a late second-set fightback from Australian lucky loser Emerson Jones to secure a 6-4, 6-3 victory and advance to the round of 16 of the Hong Kong Open on Tuesday night at the Victoria Park Tennis Stadium.
The Filipina ace, who entered the tournament at a career-high World No. 17, needed an hour and 26 minutes to dispatch Jones and book her place in the next round of the WTA 250 tournament.
Eala appeared firmly in control after building a 4-0 lead in the opening set. She broke Jones twice behind a series of aggressive forehand winners and composed baseline exchanges.
However, the Australian refused to go away quietly, capitalizing on Eala’s serving struggles to win three consecutive games and cut the deficit to 4-3.
Eala eventually halted Jones’ momentum, breaking back before serving for the set. But the 18-year-old Australian broke once more to make it 5-4 and put the Filipina under pressure.
The World No. 17 kept her composure, though, fending off Jones’ attempt to force a tiebreak and converting her set point after another costly double fault from the Australian to take the opener, 6-4.
Eala carried that momentum into the second set, immediately breaking Jones before consolidating for a 2-0 advantage.
Although both players continued to struggle with their serves, Eala gradually established control, breaking Jones again to move ahead, 3-1, before holding serve for a commanding 4-1 lead.
Jones managed to pull one break back and trimmed the deficit to 4-3, threatening another comeback. But Eala responded with a crucial hold and another break to move within a game of victory at 5-3.
The Filipina then made no mistake in her final service game, taking advantage of Jones’ serving woes to close out the match, 6-3.
Eala’s right leg was visibly wrapped during the match, although it did not appear to significantly affect her movement around the court.
Jones entered the main draw as a last-minute replacement for American Alycia Parks, who withdrew due to a shoulder injury.
The 18-year-old Australian had originally fallen in the final round of qualifying, losing to Russian Alexandra Shubladze, 6-4, 6-2, on Sunday.
Eala and Jones had never faced each other before their Hong Kong Open encounter.
The victory sends Eala into the round of 16, where she continues her campaign in the tournament following her rise to a career-best ranking earlier this week.
