Alex Eala advanced to her first-ever WTA final after outlasting France's Varvara Gracheva in the 2025 Eastbourne Open semifinals.
Alex Eala is officially headed to her first WTA Finals after firing past France’s Varvara Gracheva, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, in the 2025 Eastbourne Open semifinals on Friday, June 27.
Fresh off a dominant win against Dayana Yastremska in the quarterfinals, Eala continued her brilliant showing against the well-rested Gracheva, who reached the Final Four after a walkover victory against No. 2-seeded Barbora Krejcíková.
The 20-year-old Pinay tennis star overcame an extended first-set battle, which saw Eala take advantage of the first serve and break points.
Gracheva, however, would not go down easily, coming back from a 0-2 deficit in the second frame with six straight frames to tie the match level.
Tied 3-all in a close tiebreaker, Eala secured back-to-back frames to give herself some cushion. Serving for the game, the world No. 64 would not be denied as she blanked the French tennis star.
The match mirrors Eala and Gracheva’s match in the 2025 Nottingham Open two weeks ago, where she came away with the victory as well.
Eala will now await the semifinal winner between Australia’s Maya Joint and Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.