Alex Eala fends off Emerson Jones to reach Hong Kong Open second round

An unexpected change in opponent did not throw Alex Eala off her game as the Filipina star dispatched Australia's Emerson Jones, 6-4, 6-3, to open her Hong Kong Open campaign on Tuesday.

Eala, who was originally scheduled to face Alycia Parks but instead took on Jones after the Parks' withdrawal with a shoulder injury hours before the match, is now moving on to the Round of 16 as she seeks to end her season on a high note.

Eala quickly imposed her will over the world No. 132 Jones by racing to an early 4-0 lead in the opening frame, but the 18-year-old Australian took the next three games to keep the Filipina within striking distance.

Eala clinched a 5-3 lead but Jones retaliated by seizing the next game as the latter managed to pull herself to within a game at 5-4. Jones was on the verge of forcing a deadlock after reaching a 40-15 lead in Game 10, but Eala scored four straight points, which included three errors from Jones, to close out Set 1.

The 21-year-old Eala took it from there, capturing a big 4-1 cushion by sweeping Jones in Game 5. Eala took advantage of another string of errors from Jones, who sent her last two attacks wide to allow the Philippine pride to finish off the match in one hour and 23 minutes.

Eala will next face Tereza Valentova, who earlier pulled off a similar two-set win against Japanese Himeno Sakatsume.

Alex Eala's Season recap (singles)

Asian swing

• Pan Pacific Open — Quarterfinals
• Ningbo Open — Round of 16
• Wuhan Open — Round of 64
• Singapore Tennis Open — Round of 16

North American swing

• US Open — Round of 32
• Cincinnati Open — Round of 32
• Canadian Open — Round of 16
• DC Open — Champion

Grass-court swing

• Wimbledon (Grand Slam) — Round of 16
• Bad Homburg Open (WTA 500) — Round of 32
• Berlin Tennis Open (WTA 500) — Semifinals
• HSBC Championships (WTA 500) — Round of 16
• Birmingham Open (WTA 125) — Champion

Clay-court swing

• French Open (Grand Slam) — Round of 128
• Italian Open (WTA 1000) — Round of 32
• Madrid Open (WTA 1000) — Round of 64
• Stuttgart Open (WTA 500) — Round of 32
• Linz Open (WTA 500) — Round of 16

Sunshine Swing

• Miami Open (WTA 1000) — Round of 16
• Indian Wells Open (WTA 1000) — Round of 16

Middle East Swing

• Dubai Tennis Championships (WTA 1000) — Quarterfinals
• Qatar Open (WTA 1000) — Round of 64
• Abu Dhabi Open (WTA 500) — Quarterfinals

Philippine Women’s Open (WTA 125) — Quarterfinals

Australian Swing

• Australian Open (Grand Slam) — Round of 128
• ASB Classic (WTA 250) — Semifinals

—JMB, GMA News