HANGZHOU—Alex Eala was clinical in a 6-0, 6-0 domination of Pakistan’s Sarah Ibrahim Khan—her first opponent here who’s 14 years older at 32—in the 19th Asian Games women’s singles event of tennis at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre.
Eala needed only 39 minutes to warm up for her Asiad campaign, a lopsided victory she highlighted with two aces and 12 points on her serves.
“It was a great game and it was good for my confidence,’’ said Eala, 18 and currently ranked No. 191 in the world.
She will face either Kazakhstan’s Aruzhan Sagandykova or India’s Rutuja Bhosale in the next round.
“I think I came in with a great attitude and a great mindset,’’ said Eala, who will also see action in mixed doubles with Ruben Gonzales.
Francis Alcantara is also competing hoping to end a medal drought in tennis that started after Filipino-American Cecil Mamiit clinched two bronzes in the 2006 Doha edition.
Image credits: Nonie Reyes (CANON EOS R6)