MANILA – Filipina tennis star Alexandra Eala showed no mercy in Brazil, dismantling France’s Yasmine Mansouri, 6-0, 6-2, to storm into the São Paulo Open’s Last 16 on Wednesday morning.
The 20-year-old, fresh off her breakthrough WTA 125 triumph in Guadalajara last week, needed barely an hour to crush her French opponent and extend her sizzling run on the women’s tour.
Eala, the tournament’s No. 3 seed, swept the first set in a flawless 6-0 shutout. Mansouri tried to claw back in the second, but the Filipina’s relentless precision and poise sealed the straight-sets rout.
The dominant win came just two days after Eala rose to a career-high world ranking of No. 61, only five spots shy of her personal best at No. 56.
Next up is Argentina’s Julia Riera, who ousted Russia’s Vitalia Diatchenko, 6-3, 7-6(1). The clash sets up a fiery rubber match — Riera stunned Eala in the 2023 Roland Garros qualifiers, but the Filipina avenged that defeat later that year with a commanding win in Cary.
Eala’s rapid rise has become one of Philippine tennis’ brightest stories. From winning junior Grand Slam doubles crowns in 2020 and 2021 to now breaking into the world’s Top 70, she has transformed from prodigy to a genuine contender on the women’s circuit.
With her current form, Eala isn’t just making history — she’s making a statement./PN
