Tatiana Prozorova knows what is coming on Thursday. "She's very good. She's like an octopus, you know? She runs from side to side, and she puts a lot of pressure on her opponent," the world No. 180 told ABS-CBN ahead of her first meeting with Alex Eala.
The Russian, 22, said she can adjust to Eala's aggression: "Trying to be a little smarter." She is also wary of the big Filipino crowd expected in the stands, the Daily Tribune reports.
Prozorova reached the round of 16 by beating Belgium's Sofia Costoulas 5-7, 7-6(2), 6-2 on Tuesday at OCBC Arena. Eala, the No. 3 seed and world No. 18, had a first-round bye. Their match is scheduled for Thursday, not before 6:30 p.m.
Eala sounded ready at Sunday's players' welcome party. "I feel good, I feel healthy, which I'm so grateful for… I feel ready. I feel excited. I'm here, I'm closer to home, so I'm very excited," she said, the Daily Tribune reports.
It is a different visit from last year. Back then, still outside the Top 100, she lost 6-3, 6-2 to Simona Waltert in Singapore qualifying.
No. 2 seed Amanda Anisimova has since withdrawn with a wrist injury. Singapore is Eala's warm-up for the Asian Games in Nagoya.
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