Alex Eala figures in battle of history-making Southeast Asians vs Janice Tjen

Alex Eala faces Indonesia’s Janice Tjen within the quarterfinals of the Sao Paulo Open in Brazil weeks after they made Grand Slam historical past for his or her respective international locations within the US Open

MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala tangles with one other history-making Southeast Asian as she shoots for a last 4 berth within the Sao Paulo Open in Brazil.

Seeded third, Eala faces Indonesia’s Janice Tjen within the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 occasion on the Villa-Lobos State Park on Friday, September 12 (Saturday, September 13, Manila time).

Their conflict comes weeks after the 2 pulled off landmark wins within the US Open in New York, the place they ended lengthy Grand Slam droughts for his or her respective international locations.

Eala grew to become the primary Filipino to win a significant major draw match within the Open period when she shocked Denmark’s Clara Tauson within the opening spherical, whereas Tjen earned the primary Grand Slam win by an Indonesian in 22 years following her upset of Russia’s Veronika Kudermetova.

“I’m so comfortable to see the progress of tennis in Southeast Asia generally,” Eala stated again in August.

“I’ve identified [Tjen] for a very long time, so I’m comfortable for her. I’m comfortable that gamers from this area are arising and beginning to achieve success.”

Though they each exited within the second spherical, with Eala shedding to Cristina Bucsa of Spain and Tjen falling prey to former US Open champion Emma Raducanu of Nice Britain, they proceed to make waves on the worldwide stage.

Eala, who’s at present the highest-ranked Southeast Asian on this planet at No. 61, captured her first-ever WTA Challenger crown by ruling the Guadalajara Open in Mexico simply days in the past.

The 20-year-old Filipina rides on a seven-match successful streak as she beat France’s Yasmine Mansouri and Argentina’s Julia Riera within the first two rounds of the SP Open.

In the meantime, the 23-year-old Tjen grew to become the primary Indonesian to succeed in a WTA quarterfinal after making quick work of Slovakia’s Martina Okalova to rearrange a duel with Eala.

Bettering 19 spots within the newest world rankings launched final Monday, September 8, Tjen rose to a career-high No. 130.

The winner between Eala and Tjen will go up towards both second seed Solana Sierra of Argentina or sixth seed Francesca Jones of Nice Britain within the semifinals. – Rappler.com