Filipina netter Alex Eala is still in the running for a title in her last tournament of the year.
Alex Eala remains in the running for one more singles title before her 2024 season ends as she marched on to the semifinals of the ongoing W100 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Eala, 19, survived a first set loss against Japan bet Kyoka Okamura to take a three-set netfest that lasted more than two hours, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, in the quarterfinals on Friday.
She sets up a clash for a chance at the final against top-seeded Polina Kudermetova slated on Saturday night, Manila time.
Against Okamura, Eala started optimistically enough as she gained the 3-2 lead in the first set.
But the Japanese hitter produced a love game in Game 6 that kickstarted a four-game win streak for Okamura that meant Eala found herself down by one set for the first time in the Dubai tournament.
Finding herself in unfamiliar territory, Eala needed to dig deep as she broke Okamura’s serve in Set 2 to seize the 4-3 lead with a break point. Though her foe once again drew close with a win in Game 9 to make it , 4-5, in favor of the Filipina, Eala finished the job in Game 10 to extend it to Set 3.
In the winner-take-all third set, Eala zoomed to a 3-0 lead, finishing off her flourish with a break point win. She then hung on for a comfortable 6-2 win to clinch the victory.
She did not, however, have the same fate in the women’s doubles as she and Greek partner Valentini Grammatikopoulou fell at the hands of 2-seed pair Isabelle Haverlag and Elena Pridankina, 7-5, 4-6, 3-10.
After taking the opening set, the duo couldn’t finish the job as they fell flat in the third set tiebreak to end their journey as quarterfinalists in the doubles tiff.