MANILA – Alexandra Eala defeated American Alycia Parks, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2, Thursday to kick off her campaign at the WTA 1000 National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada.
She is now 1-1 against Parks, who beat her 0–6, 6–3, 6–2, in the first round of this year’s Australian Open.
The 21-year-old Filipino will next face American Caty McNally, who shocked No. 6 seed Czech Linda Noskova, 7-6 (5), 6-1.
Eala is coming off a title victory at Mubadala DC Open, improving to a career-best No. 20 in the WTA singles rankings.
Meanwhile, top seed Aryna Sabalenka downed Japanese Uchijima, 6-3, 6-3, to advance against China’s Zhang Shuai who was leading 6-0, 4-0, when No. 26 Jelena Ostapenko retired.
Other winners were No. 2 Elena Rybakina over Daria Kasatkina, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4; No. 3 Jessica Pegula over Magdalena Frech, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; No. 4 Coco Gauff over qualifier Kayla Day, 6-2, 7-5; and No. 5 Mirra Andreeva over Karolina Pliskova, 6-0, 6-2.
No. 11 Japanese Naomi Osaka, No. 12 Belinda Becic, No. 13 Iva Jovic, No. 28 Ann Li, No. 29 Maria Sakkari, No. 30 Leylah Fernandez also made it to the third round.
In other matches, Taylor Townsend eliminated No. 21 Marie Bouzkova, 7-6 (4), 7-5; Liudmila Samsonova ousted No. 22 Barbora Krejcikova, 6-1, 7-5; and Alina Korneeva stunned No. 23 Emma Navarro, 6-2, 6-2. (PNA)
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