KRISTEL SATUMBAGA

Alex Eala bucked a lethargic opening-set to defeat Yvonne Cavelle-Reimers of Spain, 0-6, 6-2, 7-5, and barge into the quarterfinals of the W60 Madrid International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament in Spain Thursday.

Determined to win her her title, the 17-year-old Eala got down to work and regained her composure to outplay Cavalle-Reimers.

The win set her up a Final 8 meeting with Australian Jaimee Fourlis.

The third-seeded Fourlis bested Colombia’s Maria Fernanda Herazo Gonzalez, 6-1, 7-5.

Like a wounded tiger, Eala raced to a quick 3-1 lead in the second set and dictated the pace from there on en route to the set victory.

Cavalle-Reimers recovered in the deciding third set and took a 5-3 lead, but Eala refused to give up the fight by winning four straight games to seal the win.

Eala is expected to have a tough time against the 22-year-old Fourlis, who is currently ranked No. 182 and is coming off back-to-back title victories at the W25 Madrid and W60 Brasov in Romania.

Eala is currently ranked No. 413.

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