Eala dominates Thai foe to begin Asian gold bid on a high

Manila Times - Sep 28, 2026

MANILA, Philippines -- Filipino tennis ace Alexandra "Alex" Eala began her 20th Asian Games gold medal bid on a high note after dominating Patcharin Cheapchandej in the round of 16, 6-1, 6-0, at the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center Indoor Court C in Japan Monday afternoon. The second round match was supposed to be played outdoors at the Show Court but was moved indoors due to rains. The inclement weather also delayed the match for about five hours. The delay did nothing to bother the world No. 18 and tournament top seed Eala, who jumped on No. 505 Cheapchandej to dictate the match for the rest of the way. Raring to bounce back after a shock second round exit in Singapore last Thursday, Eala bageled Cheapchandej in the second set capped by a booming ace to close the match. Eala faces world No. 142 Joanna Garland of Taiwan in the quarterfinals on Tuesday. Garland defeated Mandegar Farzami in their round of 16 clash. Eala also competes in the doubles side with Shaira Rivera, as they face the Hong Kong tandem of Lai Ching Laam and Liu Kallista in the first round on Tuesday. Rivera got off to a winning start in the mixed doubles with Francis Alcantara...

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