Mayar Sherif on Thursday became the first Egyptian woman to reach the quarter-finals of a WTA tournament when she defeated Alexandra Eala of the Philippines at Cluj in Romania.
Sherif, ranked 119 in the world, eased to a 6-2, 6-2 second round victory over her 16-year-old opponent who was making her debut in the main draw of a top-level event.
The 25-year-old Sherif, a former United States college player, will face eighth-seeded Kristina Kucova for a place in the semi-finals, AFP reported.
Kucova, ranked 118, defeated Irina Maria Bara of Romania 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/5) in her second round tie at the claycourt event.
