Making her clay court debut this season, Alex Eala got off to a strong start with a 6-4, 6-3 win over local bet Julia Graber in the Round of 32 of the 2026 Upper Austria Ladies Linz on Wednesday morning Philippine time.
Despite having a clear lead in the rankings as world number 46, the Filipino tennis sensation faced a difficult test against her Austrian opponent, who is far more experienced on clay and has built WTA success on track.
Despite being ranked 89th in the world, Glover showed comfort on clay from the start, matching Ila stroke for stroke in a close first set. Both players served consistently through the first nine games, with Ila slowly taking the lead with five wins and four losses.
But when the set came at a critical moment, Ila took advantage and leveled up at just the right time, breaking serve in the 10th game and winning the opener in solid fashion.
The numbers highlighted just how close the opening set was.
Glover held a slight advantage in first serve points won, converting 65% compared to Ila’s 63%. But the difference came on the second serve, where the 20-year-old Filipino proved more effective, winning 63% of the points. It was enough to tip the balance in her favor in a close first set.
The second set started with a similar rhythm, with both players holding serve through the first three games, with Ila leading 2-1. This time, however, the Filipino player created separation faster and beat Glover in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead.
Glover regained his momentum and looked ready to grab two break point opportunities in the next game. However, Ila showed composure from the baseline, saving both chances and backing it up with strong holds to solidify a 4-1 lead.
However, the Austrian remained within firing range.
She tied the match together for the second consecutive match, highlighted by a seventh break, narrowing the gap to 3-4 and putting the pressure on once again.
Still, Ira had an answer.
In a closely contested eighth game filled with overtime rallies and swings in momentum, the Filipino player dug deep to get another break and was in the game to end the set, ultimately clinching the victory.
Overall, the key advantage remained Ila’s effectiveness on the second serve. Of those points, she earned 58% compared to Glover’s 50%. This was a key advantage in maintaining control during the tough stretches of the match.
Aira’s next match is a Round of 16 showdown with former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, who has a proven track record on clay.
