Alex Eala unleashed a dominant performance on Thursday, Jan. 8, as she secured a place in the ASB Classic quarterfinals in Auckland. The Filipina fourth seed defeated Petra Marcinko, winning 6-0, 6-2 in just over an hour.

The second-round contest marked the first singles meeting between the two former junior standouts. Any sense of balance disappeared quickly as Eala surged ahead and controlled the match from the opening games.

 

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Eala said afterward that she was pleased with how she handled the different moments that came up during the match. She added that each new season brings fresh challenges, but she is satisfied with how her year has started.

Fast start sets the tone

Eala opened the match by winning the first seven games and immediately placed Marcinko under constant pressure. The world No. 53 dictated play with depth and consistency, rarely allowing her opponent to settle.

Although Marcinko briefly gained an early break in the second set, Eala responded without hesitation. She closed the match by winning six straight games to seal the victory in 63 minutes.

Eala converted all six of her break-point chances and limited Marcinko’s opportunities. She also saved five of the six break points she faced, underlining her composure throughout the match.

Momentum carries into last eight

Marcinko entered the match on an 11-match winning streak after claiming two ITF titles in the United Arab Emirates and a first-round win in Auckland. That momentum, however, faded quickly against Eala’s sustained pressure.

The Croatian, ranked No. 82, struggled on serve and won just 12 points across seven service games. As a result, she was unable to recover once Eala established control.

Eala will next face fifth seed Magda Linette for a place in the semifinals after the Polish veteran defeated Elisabetta Cocciaretto in three sets. The quarterfinal offers Eala a chance to earn her first win over Linette after losing their previous two meetings.