Alex Eala powered past Oleksandra Oliynykova in their second-round match at the US Open on Thursday, defeating the Ukrainian 6-1, 6-4 at Flushing Meadows, New York.
The victory secured Eala her first appearance in the third round of the US Open and also served as revenge for the Filipina's three-set loss to Oliynykova at the Strasbourg Open in May, 6-3, 5-7, 3-6.
She will next face her great friend Iva Jovic for a place in the second week of the tournament. Jovic defeated Fran Jones 6-4, 6-4.
"Who I play in the next round is definitely out of my control, but they are both great friends of mine, both such amazing people and players," Eala said after her victory, before Jovic was confirmed as her next opponent.
Eala was asked about her success since winning the US Open junior title four years ago and what it meant to her to represent the Philippines.
"I think everybody represents something in their own way," she said.
"I am Filipino and I proudly represent that.
"And a lot of people in the crowd are Filipino and I'm sure they share the sentiment, like Americans, or Ukrainians like Oleksandra, who played so amazingly today. We all represent something and I'm proud of what I represent."
Eala put immediate pressure on Oliynykova's serve to race out to a 4-0 lead in the opening set, just as she had done against Mary Stoiana in her first-round match.
The Ukrainian finally got on the board with a break in the fifth game, but Eala answered with a break back in the sixth before holding serve to close out the set in the seventh game.
Eala's first serve once again proved pivotal, as she won 10 of 12 points behind her first delivery, giving her a clear edge in the early exchanges.
Oliynykova provided more resistance early in the second set, matching Eala point-for-point through the opening four games as they moved to 2-2.
The Filipina eventually found the breakthrough in the fifth game, earning the first break of the set, but Oliynykova immediately responded with a break of her own in the sixth.
Eala, the world No. 18 and the No. 17 seed in New York, broke again in the seventh game and consolidated the break by holding serve to move within a game of taking the set at 5-3.
That break would prove to be the difference, as Oliynykova held serve before Eala closed out the match in the 10th game.
Eala's ability to find winners consistently was key to the victory, as she finished with a 19-6 advantage in that category.
