Philippine star Eala soars into Asian Games quarter-finals in 55 minutes

[p]The world number 18 and favourite for women's singles gold in Nagoya thrashed Thailand's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cheapchandej-patcharin/IT1Nplx5/"]Patcharin Cheapchandej[/a] 6-1, 6-0.[/p][p]It was a mismatch, with Patcharin ranked 517th in the world, and top seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/eala-alexandra/ppu9X7PH/"]Eala[/a] will face Taiwan's UK-born eighth seed [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/garland-joanna/nLHKqCzb/"]Joanna Garland[/a] in the quarter-finals.[/p][image alt="Eala needed just 55 minutes to reach the quarter-finals" id="254cdfac-97e5-4021-9f57-3b1c51dce65e" credit-line="Photo by TORU HANAI / GETTY IMAGES ASIAPAC / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP" guid="251c5a15-ee62-438b-9107-3f0e913425fc" original-width="4061" original-height="2708" /][p]Eala, 21, last month became the first player from the Philippines to win a WTA Tour title.[/p][p]She has become wildly popular in the Philippines, her every match followed by large numbers of cheering fans.[/p][p]Eala is skipping the prestigious China Open in Beijing to represent her country at the Asian Games.[/p][p]She had a bye in the first round.[/p]