Filipina tennis sensation Alex Eala pulled off a stunning feat on Friday (PH time), winning two tough matches in one day to book a spot in the semifinals of the Guadalajara 125 Open in Mexico.
The 20-year-old Eala first resumed her rain-delayed Round of 16 match against American veteran Varvara Lepchenko, where she came from a set down to claim a gritty 6-7(3), 7-6(3), 6-3 victory.
The match had been suspended the day before due to rain, with Eala ahead 3-2 in the second set. Picking up right where she left off, the Filipina showed mental toughness in the tiebreak and carried her momentum into the deciding set to advance.
Just hours later, Eala returned to the court to face Nicole Fossa Huergo of Italy in the quarterfinals. Despite a slow start and falling behind 1-4 in the first set, Eala mounted a comeback, eventually forcing and winning the tiebreak, 7-6(2). She then took control in the second set, cruising to a 6-2 finish.
With the win, Eala is now one step closer to capturing her first WTA title, after finishing runner-up at the Lexus Eastbourne Open in June — her best professional result so far.
She will next face US representative, Kayla Day, in the semifinals on Saturday (no earlier than 2:10 a.m. PH time). Day advanced after upsetting third seed Emiliana Arango of Colombia in straight sets.
The Guadalajara Open is Eala’s first tournament appearance since the US Open, where she made it to the second round. She is also scheduled to compete in the Sao Paulo Openin Brazil from September 8 to 14.
Eala, who continues to rise in the WTA rankings and bring pride to the Philippines, is once again proving that she belongs among the world’s top young talents in tennis.
