TENNIS: Eala reaches HK Open quarterfinals

Filipino tennis standout Alexandra Eala advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 Hong Kong Open after defeating Czech player Tereza Valentova 6-4, 7-6 (7-0) at Victoria Park Tennis Stadium, Thursday, Nov 5.

The tournament's second seed will next face Croatia's Antonia Ruzic, who overcame sixth-seeded Chinese player Wang Xinyu 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

Eala booked her spot in the second round with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Australian Emerson Jones, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser following the withdrawal of American Alycia Parks because of a shoulder injury.

Elsewhere, fourth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece rallied past Australia's Maya Joint 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to arrange a quarterfinal meeting with Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich, who eliminated fifth-seeded Australian Talia Gibson.

American Claire Liu advanced with a straight-sets win over Britain's Katie Boulter, setting up a clash with Turkey's Zeynep Sonmez in the last eight.

In another quarterfinal matchup, Alexandra Shubladze will play either top-seeded Romanian Sorana Cirstea or American Mary Stoiana.

The Hong Kong Open is one of two WTA 250 tournaments being held this week, alongside the Chennai Open in India, serving as the final events on the WTA calendar before the season-ending WTA Finals beginning Nov. 8.

Paraluman News with a report of Jean Malanum/Philippine News Agency