World juniors’ number 4 and Globe Ambassador Alex Eala beat Nadia Echeverria Alam in three sets to win her first-ever professional match in the ITF Women’s Future in Monastir, Tunisia.

The 14-year-old Filipina tennis sensation’s victory over her American-Venezuelan rival, however, didn’t come easy. Eala overcame a slow start and held her nerves in the second set to bag the win against her 25-year-old opponent, 1-6, 7-6, 3-2. Alam is currently ranked 772nd in the world.

With the win, Eala will face tournament third seed Nina Stadler of Switzerland in the second round.

Eala, a Globe Ambassador since 2016, is fresh from winning her first title in a grand slam tournament.

Along with Indonesian partner Priska Nugroho, Eala won the girls’ doubles competition of the 2020 Australian Open.

Eala’s successful pro-debut earned her congratulations from the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy where she is also a scholar.