Alex Eala put on her best performance yet in 2026 with a 6-0, 6-2 dismantling of Petra Marcinko on Thursday morning. With the win, the personable Filipina tennis sensation advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2026 WTA 250 ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.
Learning from Her Mistakes in the Round of 16
From the first ball, Eala dictated play and showcased noticeable improvement, particularly in taking care of early leads. She surged to a 3-0 lead within minutes and never allowed Marcinko to settle into any rhythm, sweeping the opening set in under half an hour without dropping a game. The Filipina’s depth, movement, and aggressive returns consistently pushed the Croatian onto the defensive, resulting in a flawless opening set.
The lone moment of tension came early in the second set. After No. 82 Marcinko finally got on the board, No. 53 Eala faced a triple break point at 0-40. She calmly erased the danger with assertive shotmaking, a hold that proved decisive in preventing any momentum shift. Although Marcinko briefly edged ahead 2-1 with a break, Eala responded immediately, breaking back and reeling off four straight games.
FINAL SCORES
SET 1: 6-0
SET 2: 6-2
The 20-year-old closed the contest emphatically, sealing her place in the last eight in just 63 minutes. The win improved her WTA main-draw record against Croatian opponents to 2-0 and highlighted her efficiency, converting every break opportunity while saving five of six against her. Eala will next face the winner of the clash between Magda Linette and Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Signs of Improvement in Her Best Match (Yet) of the Year
This flawless victory was a far cry from Eala’s previous Round of 32 singles match against Donna Vekić, where she had an early lead but struggled to capitalize. This time, she controlled the match from start to finish. Marcinko made the second set slightly interesting after narrowing the lead, but the WTA 150 Guadalajara champion remained focused and executed her shots perfectly, avoiding another tiebreaker.
Now in the quarterfinals, fans hope Eala continues her fine play and improves even further. With three more wins, a championship could very well be on the horizon.
