Alex Eala recovered from a set down to boot out Liang En-shuo of Chinese Taipei, 5-7, 6-1, 7-5, in the first qualifying match of the Galaxy Holding Group Guangzhou Open at the Nansha International Tennis Center in Guangzhou, China on Saturday.
Eala needed two hours and 10 minutes to get over her Taiwanese foe and advance to the next qualifying match.
The 18-year-old graduate of the Rafael Nadal Academy is playing her third tournament in Asia to gear up for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou from 24 to 30 September.
Eala will only need one more win to secure a spot in the main draw of the tournament, which runs from 18 to 23 September.
“Night session feels! Final Qualis tomorrow,” Eala said in a social media post.
Eala will face Elaiza Mandlik of the United States in the second qualifying match on Sunday, 17 September at 3:15 p.m.
