Filipina tennis star Alex Eala is out for a place in the Jingshan Open Finals and payback as she takes on old rival Lulu Sun of New Zealand.
Alex Eala’s path to the 2025 Jingshan Open Finals comes with some unfinished business.
The Filipina tennis star lock horns with familiar rival Lulu Sun of New Zealand in the semifinals on Saturday, Sept. 27.
Match time is at 12:50 p.m., with Eala looking to make another WTA 125 finale.
There’s no love lost as Eala aims to avenge a 6-7(3), 5-7 defeat to the 24-year-old Kiwi from their initial meeting, which came during the final qualifying round of the 2024 Wimbledon Championships.
That victory over the Filipina lefty proved to be the springboard for Sun’s quarterfinal run at the grass-court Grand Slam, where she stunned the likes of world no. 9 Zheng Qinwen and former US Open champion Emma Raducanu.
The Kiwi tennister — a seven-time ITF champion — also reached a career-high ranking of no. 39 last year.
For her part, Eala has made significant strides since that loss, reaching her first Grand Slam main draw at this year’s French Open and earning her first Major victory at the US Open.
[ALSO READ: Alex Eala savors Filipino support in maiden US Open win — ‘They made me feel like I’m home’]
The world no. 58 has powered her way to the semifinals in Jingshan without dropping a set, breezing past the likes of Aliona Falei, Mei Yamaguchi, and Lu Jiajing.
[ALSO READ: In-form Alex Eala dispatches Lu, arrange semis clash vs old foe Lulu Sun at Jingshan Open]
Sun is proving just as tough, sweeping through the draw and dispatching Russia’s Elena Pridankina 6-2, 6-4 in the quarterfinals.
The winner of their showdown will earn the right to face the survivor of the Ma YeXin-Talia Gibson duel.
(With reports from Pao Ambat)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]