dailyloe.com – Alex Eala defeated Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3 in the round of 128 of the Mutua Madrid Open on Wednesday evening Philippine time. The world No. 44 Filipina showcased composure and control in her first clay-court WTA 1000 campaign of the season. It marked their first head-to-head meeting. Eala matched her Madrid result from the past two years and is now in position to push deeper into the draw.
The opening exchanges were tight, with the 34-year-old Pavlyuchenkova dictating early rallies and holding firm through the first four games. Eala’s consistency from the baseline and improved shot selection kept her service games intact, leveling things at 2-2. A well-timed break in the fifth game shifted the momentum. Eala began to extend rallies and force errors off the Russian’s wing.
That break opened the door for a three-game surge to 4-2, putting her firmly in control of the set. Sensing the moment, Eala stayed aggressive on return and secured another break. She closed out the set with a commanding 6-3 score. The second set followed a similar pattern of controlled aggression from the Filipina teenager.
