Second seed Alex Eala started her campaign in the women’s singles tennis event of the 31st Southeast Asian Games with an impressive two-set win Tuesday at the Hanaka Sports and Service Center in Bac Ninh, Vietnam.
Eala, 16, blasted Phonphatehep Philavong of Laos 6-2, 6-1 to advance to the quarterfinals, while teammate Janaila Rose Prulla also made it to the quarterfinals without sweating it, scoring a walkover victory against Malaylack Pathummakuronen of Laos due to medical reason.
Eala will face Singaporean Lynelle En Tong Lim in the next round while Prulla will take on top seed Chanelle Vang Nguyen of host Vietnam.
Defending men’s doubles champion Francis Casey Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon of the Philippines beat Cambodia’s Mathew David Krusling and Samneang Long 6-1, 6-1 to move to the quarterfinals.
