Filipina tennis darling Alex Eala overcomes Varvara Gracheva in three sets to start her qualifiers in the Nottingham Open.
Alex Eala had an optimistic start to her campaign in the Nottingham Open, winning in three sets over former world no. 39 Varvara Gracheva in the first round of qualifiers on Saturday.
Eala, just 24 hours removed from her quarterfinals exit at the Ilkley Open, plunged back into action with a gritty, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the French national to move one win away from the main draw of the WTA 250 tournament.
The 20-year-old dug deep to gain a 5-2 advantage in the deciding set, breaking Gracheva’s serve after four deuces in the game.
Despite Gracheva breaking right back in the next game to get within two games, Eala was able to finish her off after running away early in the game and gaining two match points, 40-15.
She converted on the first try to take the victory.
Earlier in the match, Gracheva denied Eala the sweep when she won three of the last four games in the second set, pulling away from a one-game lead at 4-3.
But the Filipina showed resilience to win the first two games of set 3 to regain the advantage.
Even as Gracheva battled back to tie the set at 2-2, Eala was able to fend off her older foe to get things going on the right foot in her latest grass-court tourney.
Eala faces Romania’s Anca Todoni next for the right to enter the main draw of the tournament.