Eala powers past Dutch foe, rain halts Round of 16 clash in Guadalajara

Fresh off her historic US Open breakthrough, Alex Eala opened her Guadalajara 125 Open campaign on a high note, dispatching Dutch opponent Arianne Hartono, 6-2, 6-2, before her Round of 16 match against veteran Varvara Lepchenko was suspended due to rain.

The 20-year-old Filipina brushed aside Hartono with over an hour on September 3 (Philippine time), extending her perfect head-to-head record against the Dutch player to 4-0 since their first meeting in 2023. 

In her next match, Eala’s round of 16 showdown was cut short by rain with the Filipina ahead 3-2 in the deciding set against veteran Varvara Lepchenko after splitting the first two sets, 6-7(3), 7-6(3), September 4.

Eala regrouped from a first-set loss by taking control of the second-set tiebreak, forcing a decider where she gained the early edge before the weather interruption.

Tournament officials have yet to announce whether play will continue later in the day or be rescheduled. 

The winner will advance to meet Italy’s Nicole Fossa Huergo, who beat the seventh seed Katarzyna Kawa, 6-7 (2), 6-0, 6-1 in comeback fashion.