MANILA, Philippines — Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala eyes a payback win against Ukrainian Oleksandra Oliynykova in the US Open second round (round of 64).
The match is likely set for Friday.
Eala fell to Oliynykova in the first round of the WTA 500 Strasbourg Open, where they played a tight three-setter, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, last May in France.
"It was a really good match. I mean, very intense and quite tight," said Eala of her first encounter against Olynykova.
"I think looking back at that match, there are a lot of things that I could have done better and that I've been working on since then. It's been a couple of months, and I think I've developed a lot in those months.
"So yeah, all I can do is come into that match with the same mindset as today—or even better than the mindset I've been having these past couple of weeks—and try to do my best."
World No. 18 Eala began her US Open campaign with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Mary Stoiana on Wednesday.
On the other hand, Oliynykova defeated Reese Brantmeir in their first-round clash, 6-4, 6-5.
