Filipina netter Alex Eala is a semifinalist for her last tournament of the year in Dubai.
Alex Eala wrapped up her 2024 season as she exited the W100 Dubai in the Untied Arab Emirates as a semifinalist, falling against the top-seed contender in their match on Saturday.
Eala, who was coming from a stint with the Philippine team in the Billie Jean King Cup where they achieved promotion to Group II in the Asia/Oceania Zone in Bahrain, squandered a one set lead over Polina Kudermetova, 6-4, 2-6, 2-6.
The 19-year-old could not hold a candle to Kudermetova’s service game as her foe fired off nine aces against Eala’s single ace in the game. The Filipina also struggled with her own shots from the service line with eight double faults across the three sets.
In Set 3, Eala found herself on the back foot as she trailed, 1-3, with Kudermetova finishing Game 4 with a flourish on an ace.
She then had three aces in Game 6 where she seized a 4-2 advantage over the Filipina netter.
Her Game 6 win was the start of three straight for the top seed as she finished off Eala, 6-2, to move on to the Finals of the singles tournament.
Eala’s 2024 season was highlighted by two doubles titles and one singles title in the ITF tour.
The Rafa Nadal Academy scholar is currently no. 155 in the WTA rankings. But the 19-year-old also achieved a career-high world no. 143 earlier this year in July shortly after winning twin crowns in both singles and doubles in a W100 tiff in Spain.