FILIPINO tennis ace Alexandra “Alex” Eala repeated over Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, 6-3, 6-4, to enter the semifinals of the WTA 500 Mubadala D.C. Open in Washington Saturday morning in Manila.
Eala overcame 0-2 and 1-3 deficits in the second frame of the quarterfinal match to set up a semifinal clash against 4-time Grand Slam champ and world No. 13 Naomi Osaka.
The semifinal encounter was set for early Sunday in Manila.
If Eala defeats Osaka, she will face either world No. 3 Jessica Pegula or No. 17 Diana Shnaider in the final.
World No. 28 Eala put No. 10 Svitolina away with a service hold and a break, as she had the 20-time champ’s number for the second time following her quarterfinal win at the Berlin Open that yielded the same score last June.
“I think I came in with a great mindset today. I think I was playing really well,” said Eala in the court interview.
“And of course, Elena hit some good shots. She was being aggressive, especially in that second set. So, I’m really happy that I was able to kind of keep my rhythm.”
Eala proved once more that a big service game isn’t everything, as she proved more efficient in service games won at 67 percent (6-of-9).
Redirecting power has been one of Eala’s strengths, which was evident with 60 percent (6-of-10) in return games won against Svitolina.
In comparison, Svitolina had 40 percent (4-of-10) service games won, and 33 percent (3-of-9) return games won.
Raising her record against top 10 players to 8 wins against 4 losses, Eala reached her third semifinal of the season after Berlin in June and the ASB Classic in Auckland in January.
Eala, Noskova on collision course
Eala is on a collision course with newly minted Wimbledon champ Linda Noskova at the National Bank Open in Toronto, Canada.
The draw early Saturday revealed Eala and Noskova’s potential third-round clash in the tournament, which will run from Aug. 2 to 13.
Should they hurdle their respective first opponents, Eala and Noskova will battle for the third time in the Tour.
Having Noskova’s number in her junior days, Eala could not translate it to the pros yet, as she lost to the Czech in their first two matches — 2-6, 0-6 at Indian Wells round of 16 last March and 2-6, 4-6 at the Berlin Open semifinals last June.
As seeded players in Toronto, both world No. 28 Eala and No. 7 Noskova secured first-round byes and earned direct entries to the second round.
Tournament No. 25 seed Eala stares at a potential rematch in the round of 64 against American Alycia Parks, who faces a qualifier to start her campaign.
Eala yielded to world No. 68 Parks at the Australian Open first round, 6-0, 3-6, 2-6, last January.
No. 6 seed Noskova will face the winner between world No. 73 Caty Mcnally and a qualifier in the round of 64.
