Filipina teen tennis sensation Alex Eala made quick work of American foe Charlotte Owensby on Tuesday, September 7 to start her campaign in the 2021 US Open.

Eala, who earned a first-round bye, defeated 18-year-old Owensby, 6-3, 6-3, to advance to the third round of the girls singles event.

Though Owensby challenged Eala at the start of both sets, the 16-year-old Filipina found her footing and took 5-of-7 break points and scored 16 winners that swayed momentum to her favor.

Eala will next face Greece’s Michaela Laki, who also dispatched her American opponent Elizabeth Coleman in the second round.

The juniors world No. 2 is also entered in the doubles event where she partnered with Belgium’s Hanne Vanderwinkle. The pair is seeded No. 6 and also got a first-round bye in the event.

Eala is seeing action at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 2019 as organizers canceled the 2020 juniors tournament over coronavirus fears.

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar is aiming for her third Grand Slam title after her French Open juniors doubles conquest with Russian partner Oksana Selekhmeteva.

Eala won her first Grand Slam title in the 2020 Australian Open juniors tournament where she paired up with Indonesian Priska Nugroho to capture the girls doubles title.

She already nailed many career milestones this year, including her first professional title last January and closing in on the top 500 in the Women’s Tennis Association rankings. – Rappler.com