Alex Eala broke serve thrice in the final set to outplay Ekaterina Kazionova of Russia, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, yesterday (Tuesday in Germany) in the first round of the ITF W60 Hamburg Tennis Futures.
The 17-year0old Eala fought off Kazionova in a two hour and 44-minute contest to reach the second round against Ysaline Bonaventure of Belgium.
Her breaks in the third set came in the first four games, allowing Eala to quickly take a 4-0 advantage.
After a third break came, Eala never looked back from a 5-1 edge.
“Good start ! Happy with the way I played today. Round 2 match is on Thursday,” said Eala after the match in a post on Facebook.
Eala, who rose to a new career-high no. 245 this week, was able to send in 53 of 97 first serves.
She scored 32 points from there, after giving up the first set.
She gained the momentum following long rallies in the last three games of the second set as Eala moved away from a 4-all tie.
Bonaventure set a match with Eala after getting past Jana Fett of Croatia, 6-4, 6-4.