Filipina star Alexandra Eala made a confident start to her Madrid Open campaign on Wednesday, dismissing Russian qualifier Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-3, 6-3 to reach the second round in the Spanish capital for the third straight year.
The 44th-ranked lefty needed one hour and 31 minutes to see off Pavlyuchenkova, a former French Open finalist and 2021 Madrid semi-finalist now ranked 116 in the world. The 34-year-old Russian, who had to come through qualifying to reach the main draw, fell to 0-6 in tour-level main draw matches this season.
Eala saved all four break points she faced and broke Pavlyuchenkova twice in a tightly-contested 54-minute opening set. The 20-year-old briefly surrendered her advantage in the second set before reeling off eight straight points to restore order and book a meeting with 19th seed Elise Mertens.
“I feel really great. I love Madrid, it’s an amazing tournament,” said Eala, who has been based at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Mallorca for almost eight years. “Every time I come here, I feel very comfortable. I feel like I’m at home.”
Pavlyuchenkova, playing with a heavily-strapped right upper thigh, committed close to 40 unforced errors in what was the pair’s first career meeting.
“Every match at this level is a battle. All of us players, we fight until the end, and she’s been on the tour for many years,” Eala added. “So I’m really happy with this win. She’s a great player and I’m really happy to be in the next round.”
ATP — Caja Magica
In the men’s draw, 2021 Madrid finalist Matteo Berrettini was sent tumbling out by Croatian qualifier Dino Prizmic, who posted a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the former world No. 6.
“It’s definitely a big thing for me, and it’s a pleasure to share the court with him,” said the 20-year-old Prizmic, the 2022 Roland Garros junior champion. He next takes on American fourth seed Ben Shelton.
Elsewhere, former US Open champion Marin Cilic claimed his first Madrid Open win since 2022, edging world No. 44 Zizou Bergs 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in a hard-fought encounter. It was the 37-year-old Croatian’s first top-50 victory on clay in four years and sets up a second-round clash with Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca.
Looking ahead
Eala’s rematch with Mertens will be a chance to avenge her three-set loss to the Belgian at Indian Wells earlier this season, with a potential third-round meeting against the tournament’s top seeds awaiting the winner.
