Eala enters Phinma final; Pantino out

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala dominated her Chinese Taipei opponent in straight sets yesterday to make the girls singles final of the Phinma-PSC International Junior Tennis Championships at Manila Polo Club.

Displaying speed and grit, the eighth-seeded Eala handily disposed of sixth seed Fang Wei-ning, 6-3, 6-1, in the semifinals.

The 13-year-old lined herself up for yet another title as she just recently bagged the singles and doubles crowns of the I Trofeo Juniors in Spain.

But she will be facing a tougher foe in Canadian Dasha Plekhanova who pulled the rug from under top seed Janice Tjen of Indonesia, 4-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, in the meet sponsored by Philippine Tennis Association, Philippine Sports Commission, Phinma and Tecnifibre.

Fellow Filipino Arthur Craig Pantino wasn’t as fortunate as he suffered a 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 defeat to Japanese Fumida Yoshino.