Both Eala and Selekhmeteva have already faced each other twice in their career.

Eala, 15, and Selekhmeteva, 18, easily won their doubles opener in 54 minutes against Spanish Valeria Koussenkova and South African Warona Mdlulwa, 6-2, 6-0, on Tuesday night (Manila time) at the Club Tennis D’Aro.

The Filipino and Russian tie-up broke serve in the opening game and extended their lead to 4-1 before their opponents broke back to inch closer on the scoreboard. However, Eala and Selekhmeteva replied with a break, enabling them to serve for the set. The pair won the first set, 6-2, in just 29 minutes.

Eala and Selekhmeteva continued to heat up the match, making a 5-0 lead in the second set. Serving for the match, the Filipino and Russian breezed through the game to lead at 40-0. They secured victory on their first match point, 6-0.

Advancing to the quarterfinals, Eala and Selekhmeteva will be up for a challenge in the next round against top-seeds Russian pair Vlada Koval and Sofya Lansere on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Eala’s bid in the singles main draw of the $25,000 tiff began on Wednesday night against hometown bet Alba Carrillo Marin.

The juniors world no. 3 will take on 25-year-old Alba Carillo Marin, WTA no. 550, whom she already defeated twice in her pro career.

Looking to bring home her second pro title, Eala’s WTA world rankings increased to no. 660 from no. 662, as she enters her 10th tournament this year.

The 2020 Australian Open Doubles Juniors champion clinched her maiden pro title in the first leg of the W15 Manacor earlier this year.