Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala advanced to the next round of the Madrid Open after downing Russian veteran Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3 on Wednesday, April 22.

The world number 44 Filipina will next face number 21 Elise Mertens of Belgium in the round of 64.

Eala trailing the 34-year-old Pavlyuchenkova 2-1 in the first set, racked two straight games to lead 3-2. The Filipina took advantage of the Russian who called a medical timeout, emerging afterwards with a thigh wrap, by winning three games out of four to close the set.

Eala dominated the second set racing to a 3–1 lead. The number 116 Pavlyuchenkova tried to stay afloat scoring one more game 3-2 but the Filipino star took the next two games at 5–2.

Pavlyuchenkova managed to score one last game at 5-3. Eala ended the duel with a coup de grace, launching a powerful serve to win the final game and seal the match.