Alex Eala came from a set and a break down to defeat Qinwen Zheng in the opening round of the Washington Open.

The 21-year-old won 4-6 6-4 6-1 in two hours and 28 minutes to set up a last-16 clash against Leylah Fernandez.

Eala made a fast start as she held serve before converting her first break point a game later, though Zheng broke back immediately and then again at the third time of asking in the seventh game.

Zheng, who entered the tournament as a wildcard, saw out the first set and broke ahead in the seventh game of the second.

Eala, however, thrived under the pressure, converting back-to-back break points in the eighth and 10th games to force a decider.

And she made light work of the third set, converting three break points before clinching victory with her first match point.

Elsewhere in Memphis, 16-year-old Kristina Liutova stunned first seed Ekaterina Alexandrova on her WTA debut.

Liutova led 7-6 (7-2) 4-6 5-4 before Alexandrova retired due to heat illness.

Eala builds momentum towards US Open

Playing in her first match since her last-16 exit at Wimbledon, Eala made a winning start to the American hard-court swing.

She was dealt a difficult draw against Zheng, who was ranked number four in the WTA standings last year before numerous injuries, but managed to show her grit and determination with a comeback win.

However, things will not get any easier in the next round for Eala, who faces defending champion Fernandez.

Liutova, meanwhile, became the second 2010-born player to win on the Tour after Brazil's Nauhany Vitoria Leme Da Silva in September 2025.