Alex Eala advances to Toray Pan Pacific quarterfinals after besting Talia Gibson

FILIPINA TENNIS STAR. Alex Eala at the Toray Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, Japan. Toray Pan Pacific Open website Eala is now set to face Russian player Diana Shnaider, who previously defeated her in the second round of the Ningbo Open in China MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala pulls off a triumphant win over Australia’s Talia Gibson, 4-6, 6-2, 6-0, in the Toray Pan Pacific Open round of 16 match in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday, October 28. Eala had gotten off to a rough start after losing the first set to her World No. 38 opponent, 4-6. It had been smooth sailing in the succeeding sets, 6-2, 6-0, as she was able to contain Gibson by a large margin. “I think really staying in the match [and] never giving up,” Eala explained in a post-game interview when asked what the key to her victory was. “The first set was difficult, and I had my chances, so I knew that if I kept my concentration I would have more chances.” This is not the first time the two players went head-to-head with each other. Eala and Gibson had previously played against each other at the IXXVII Open Generali Ciudad de Palma del Rio round of 16 in June 2023, and then in the ITF W25 Aldershot GB Pro Series round of 16 in August 2023. The Filipina won both matches. The Filipina tennis star will now face Diana Shnaider of Russia in the quarterfinals on Friday, October 30. Just before Eala made her Toray Pan Pacific Open debut, she had suffered a second-round exit at the hands of Shnaider at the Ningbo Open in China on October 22. – Rappler.com How does this make you feel? Loading