Alexandra Eala of the Philippines celebrates a point won against Jessica Pegula during their match on Day 10 of the Miami Open at Hard Rock Stadium on March 27, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. Al Bello, Getty Images/AFP
Filipina tennis star Alex Eala needed just over an hour to dismiss Italy's Lucia Bronzetti, 6-0, 6-1, and advance to the second round of the 2025 Eastbourne Open.
It was a strong performance from Eala against Bronzetti, who is ranked 59th in the world.
After Bronzetti forced a 1-1 deadlock in the second set, Eala regrouped and dominated the rest of the way to book her place in the round-of-16.
Eala needed to go through to the qualifying draw to advance to the main draw of the tournament, where she beat Turkey's Zeynep Sönmez and American Hailey Baptiste.
The Filipina star will now play the winner of the first round match between Sonay Kartal of Great Britain and third seed Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia.
Eala had memorably stunned Ostapenko in the second round of the Miami Open in March, signaling her rise up the rankings.
READ: Alex Eala earns major upset, beats World #25 Jelena Ostapenko in Miami Open 2nd round