Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala stunned world No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 7-5, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinal round of the WTA 500 Berlin Open on Thursday (early Friday morning in Manila).
Rybakina, a former Wimbledon champion, opened the match with a 4-1 lead but Eala rallied to steal the first set.
The 35th ranked Eala continued to play well in the second frame as she took a 5-3 lead before Rybakina made it a 5-4 score.
Eala, however, held serve to secure the win and earned the right to face Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the next round.
"I called my dad," Eala said in her post-match interview.
"I said, 'Oh my God.' We were just screaming, and my mom was there and all. I'm just really happy."
