EALA STAYS HOT, RIPS FRENCH FOE

In another great display of brute power, third-ranked Alex Eala continued her hot streak, cruising past Frenchwoman Yasmine Mansouri, 6-0, 6-2, to advance to the second round of the São Paulo Open in Brazil Wednesday morning, Sept. 10 (Philippine time).

- By MARK REY MO TEJ O

Emboldened by her title win in WTA 125 Guadalajara Open in Mexico over the weekend, the world No. 61 Eala came out smoking in her return to WTA 250 action to prevail just like a walk in the park.

With her rousing triumph in Round of 32, the 20-year-old Eala arranged a Last 16 showdown with Argentina's Julia Riera, who booked her ticket via a 6-3, 7-6(1) win over Russian Vitalia Diatchenko.