Alex Eala Shines in Brazil, Cruises to São Paulo Open Quarterfinals
ALEX EALA – Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala delivered a masterclass performance in Brazil, powering past Julia Riera to secure her place in the São Paulo Open quarterfinals.
Alex Eala continued her strong campaign at the 2025 São Paulo Open, advancing to the quarterfinals after dispatching Argentina’s Julia Riera, 6-1, 6-4, in their Round of 16 duel.
The match marked the third career meeting between the two, with Riera holding a slight edge coming in. She previously edged Eala at the 2024 French Open qualifiers, but the Filipina evened the head-to-head later that year with a dominant win at the ITF W100 Cary. Their latest encounter, however, showcased Eala’s growth and control on hard courts.
From the opening game, Eala dictated the tempo. She fired a sharp backhand angle winner and capitalized on Riera’s service struggles, breaking early to establish a 2-0 cushion. The 20-year-old quickly built a commanding 4-0 lead, punishing short returns with relentless groundstrokes. Although Riera managed to take one game at 4-1 after Eala committed three double faults, the Filipina refocused and closed the set convincingly, 6-1.
The second set saw Riera push back, earning two break points in the opener. Eala, however, held her nerve with clutch return winners to maintain her lead. Using a mix of power and finesse—highlighted by corner-hitting forehands and clever drop volleys—she surged ahead to 5-3. Riera fought valiantly, saving two match points, but Eala sealed the deal with a strong service game for the 6-4 finish.
With the win, Eala advances to face Indonesia’s Janice Tjen in the quarterfinals. Tjen, currently enjoying a career-best WTA ranking of No. 130, has been in red-hot form this season with a remarkable 59–11 record. She dominated Martina Okalova in the Round of 16 and stunned seventh seed Leolia Jeanjean earlier in the tournament.
Eala’s confidence and composure will be key as she prepares for the highly anticipated clash, where she aims to continue her impressive run and bring pride to Philippine tennis.
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