Alex Eala cruises past Alina Charaeva at Philippine Women's Open

Alex Eala cruises past Russia's Alina Charaeva in round 1 of the WTA 125 Philippine Women's Open. 

Eala, who's playing in front of a Filipino crowd, beat out her 23-year-old foe with 6-1, 6-2 on Jan. 26 evening. This is the first time the 20-year-old Pinay played at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center after nearly nine years.

The Filipina, the world's no. 49, breezed through the first set, with Charaeva, the world's no. 163, only able to score once during the round. 

In the second set, Charaeva scored two games, but Eala bounced back and dominated four straight games to win the match.

Eala now advances to the Round of 16. 

"Gusto ko lang magpasalamat sa inyo... Mahirap ibahagi 'yung nararamdaman ko ngayon kasi matagal ko na tong pinapangarap, so maraming salamat," she told the cheering Pinoy crowd.

"Playing at home, my family is able to watch me in person, all of you guys, nakapanood din sa personal, kaya tuwang-tuwa [ako] siyempre."

She shared that playing in homesoil was a "full circle moment."

"To see how far tennis has come in the Philippines, I think playing matches and seeing my two worlds combine kumbaga."

Two other Filipinas in the main draw, Elizabeth Abarquez and Tennielle Madis, failed to make it past the first round.

Meanwhile, UST's Kaye Emana will play in the Round of 32 against Tatiana Prozorova on Jan. 27.

The Philippine Women's Open, the country's first-ever WTA event, is taking place at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center until Jan. 31.