Geline Salac

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Alex Eala

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<p>Alex Eala booked her place in the quarterfinals of the 2025 São Paulo Open in Brazil after defeating Argentina’s Julia Riera, 6-1, 6-4, in their Round of 16 clash.</p><p>This was the pair’s third career meeting and second encounter on hard courts.</p><p>Riera previously edged Eala in the 2024 French Open qualifiers, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, before the Filipina bounced back later that year with a 6-3, 6-1 victory at the ITF W100 Cary.</p><p>Riera, currently ranked No. 188 in the WTA with an 18–17 win-loss record in 2025, struggled to find consistency early on as Eala immediately set the tone, opening the match with a sharp angle backhand winner and quickly breaking serve to build a 2-0 lead after Riera’s third double fault of the game.</p><div><br/></div><iframe class="instagram-media instagram-media-rendered" id="instagram-embed-2" src="https://www.instagram.com/p/DOcMOJmE-Ix/embed/?cr=1&amp;v=14&amp;wp=540&amp;rd=https%3A%2F%2Fod2-workbench-web.abs-cbn.com&amp;rp=%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A279264.80000000005%2C%22ls%22%3A265182.5%2C%22le%22%3A265519.9%7D" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="" frameBorder="0" height="881" data-instgrm-payload-id="instagram-media-payload-2" scrolling="no" style="background:white;max-width:540px;width:calc(100% - 2px);border-radius:3px;border:1px solid rgb(219, 219, 219);box-shadow:none;display:block;margin:0px 0px 12px;min-width:326px;padding:0px"></iframe><script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><div><br/></div><p>Eala continued to punish short and loopy balls, racing to a 4-0 advantage. Though Riera briefly steadied to claim a game at 4-1 to capitalize on three double faults from Eala, the Filipina regrouped and closed out the first set, 6-1.</p><p>In the second set, the 20-year old tennis star Eala showcased her composure by erasing two break points in the opening game, firing back-to-back return winners on Riera’s second serve for a 1-0 edge. While Riera managed to hold for 2-1, Eala’s aggressive play carried her to a 5-3 lead highlighted by powerful groundstrokes into the corners and deft drop volleys.</p><p>Riera saved two match points with an ace and a strong serve-and-volley effort, trimming the deficit to 5-4. But Eala held firm, serving out the match 6-4 to seal the straight-sets victory.</p><p>The Filipina now turns her attention to the quarterfinals, where she will face Indonesia’s Janice Tjen who is enjoying a career-high WTA ranking of No. 130. </p><p>Tjen owns an impressive 59–11 record this season and has been in dominant form, dismantling Martina Okalova (WTA No. 464) 6-1, 6-0 in the Round of 16, after upsetting seventh seed Leolia Jeanjean (WTA No. 95) 6-2, 6-3 in the Round of 32.</p>

<p>Alex Eala booked her place in the quarterfinals of the 2025 São Paulo Open in Brazil after defeating Argentina’s Julia Riera, 6-1, 6-4, in their Round of 16 clash.</p>

Alex Eala booked her place in the quarterfinals of the 2025 São Paulo Open in Brazil after defeating Argentina’s Julia Riera, 6-1, 6-4, in their Round of 16 clash.

Alex Eala advances to São Paulo Open q'finals after straight-sets win vs Julia Riera

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Alex Eala advances to São Paulo Open q'finals after straight-sets win vs Julia Riera

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published Sep 11, 2025 07:45 AM PHT

|

Updated Sep 11, 2025 08:29 AM PHT

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alex eala

tennis

Julia Riera

São Paulo Open

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