MANILA — Alexandra Eala delivered one of her most commanding performances of the week, blasting past Croatia’s Petra Marčinko, 6–0, 6–2, to secure a quarterfinal berth in the women’s singles of the ASB Classic on Thursday in New Zealand.
Seeded fourth in the tournament, the 20-year-old Filipina dictated play from the opening game at Center Court, converting all six break-point opportunities and piling up 57 total points — nearly double Marčinko’s 30 — in a swift Round-of-16 dismissal.
“I’m very happy with the match. Different conditions from the night session that I played the other day. Overall, a great level,” Eala said. “I think she had great shots, and at one point it became close, but I’m happy pulling off the win.”
Eala’s grip on the contest tightened early in the second set. After Marčinko finally held serve, the Croatian threatened to mount a response by pushing Eala to 0–40 in the following game. The Filipina responded with composure, erasing the danger and preventing any momentum shift.
“I definitely think that helped,” Eala remarked. “It’s never easy. The further they go, the harder it is to come back. But she kept fighting, and I just had to stay there and be solid.”
The world-class poise, Eala said, stems from a growing understanding of balance on court.
“I think that’s a fundamental part of my game,” she added. “I try to be aggressive when I can and I try to recognize when it’s not the time to be aggressive, and that’s something I’m still working on.”
Eala’s strong showing extended beyond singles play. Teaming up with Iva Jović, she also advanced to the semifinals of the doubles competition after receiving a walkover win against Jesika Malečková of the Czech Republic and Mexico’s Renata Zarazúa./PN
