One title down and another to go.

Alex Eala completed the first half of her mission for a double title romp in the junior grade A tournament in Milan, Italy, on Saturday, July 17, as she and her American partner Madison Sieg copped the girls doubles crown.

Eala and Sieg defeated Croatia’s Lucija Circi Bagaric and Belgium’s Sofia Costoulas, 6-4, 4-6, 13-11, in the girls doubles final at the Tennis Club Milano Alberto Bonacossa.

The European duo forced a thrilling deciding set, but Eala and Sieg regained momentum to deny Bagaric and Costoulas the title.

The Filipina teen tennis sensation also has a chance of winning a singles title as she barged into the final after defeating Mirra Andreeva of Russia earlier Saturday.

Eala, seeded No. 1 in both the singles and doubles events, will face Czech Republic’s Nikola Bartunkova on Sunday, July 18.

The 16-year-old Filipina joined the tournament after falling short of another Grand Slam title bid in her Wimbledon debut, as she got booted out in the second round of both the singles and doubles events.

Eala won her second Slam in the 2021 French Open juniors girls doubles tournament with Russian partner Oksana Selekhmeteva last June.

In the singles competition, Eala will look to win another title since her maiden pro triumph last January in the women’s $15,000 tournament in Manacor, Spain. – Rappler.com