Eala wins opening match as top-100 player

Filipino tennis player Alexandra Eala won her opening match at the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal against Anouk Koevermans from the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-4, overcoming three rain delays.

Eala's victory marked her first competition as a top-100 player and came after a two-week layoff; she dropped games early but rallied to win decisively, erasing a 2-4 deficit in the second set to complete the comeback.

Seeded No. 1 for the first time in her career, Eala showed resilience by coming back from an early deficit in both sets to clinch victory on Tuesday, April 15, despite weather delays that postponed the match until the following day.

Eala's performance continued from her recent success at the Miami Open where she made history as the first woman from the Philippines to reach the semifinals of a WTA 1000 tournament.

Now ranked world no. 72, Eala advanced to the Round of 16 and will also compete in doubles alongside Katie Volynets on Wednesday, April 16.