Alex Eala struggled against Valentina Ryser in the second set of the WTA 125 Ilkley Open but eventually found her rhythm to claim the win.
Alex Eala settled some score against Valentina Ryser when the two tennisters met in the WTA 125 Ilkley Open on Thursday, June 12 (Manila time).
Almost three months since bowing to the Swiss player in the W75 Trnava, Eala exacted revenge on Ryser, 6-1, 6-2 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Eala had 30 winners against Ryser’s 19, while also converting six of her break point chances.
The Filipina hitter didn’t waste time and took the opening set with ease on grass.
But the unseeded tennister from Switzerland refused to just roll over and die.
Ryser showed her wares in the first four games of the second set and tied the count at two-all.
Though 19-year-old Eala would win the next four games, Ryser made sure she would bleed for that in 39 minutes of swashbuckling action.
Eala even needed to climb back from 15-40 down to take the last game and the victory that got her through the final 8 in the United Kingdom.
The tournament’s top seed will now face the winner between Canada’s Rebecca Marino and UK’s Emily Appleton.