MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala is starting to feel the crunch of being the top seed as she struggled to get through the singles quarterfinals Thursday night (in Manila) in the Trofeo Bonfiglio in Milan, Italy.
The 16-year-old FIlipina struggled with her service game and had to waste two match points before scoring a hard-earned 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-5 victory over Ksenia Zaytseva of Russia.
The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar will face in the quarters Sofia Costoulas of Belgium who advanced with equally tough 6-3, 2-6, 7-6 (7) win over Georgia Pedone of Italy.
Eala, world No. 3 in juniors, yielded nine service games against the unseeded Zaytseva — who is ranked No. 77 in the world …
Keep on reading: Alex Eala labors to reach quarterfinals in Milan