AT A GLANCE
- Alex Eala overcame an opening set hiccup and shrugged off the tough challenge from French qualifier Nahia Berecoechea, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, to barge into the quarterfinals of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W25 Yecla in Spain on Friday, June 2 (Manila time).
Alex Eala overcame an opening set hiccup and shrugged off the tough challenge from French qualifier Nahia Berecoechea, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, to barge into the quarterfinals of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W25 Yecla in Spain on Friday, June 2 (Manila time).
Alex Eala (File Photo/ 2023 Thailand Open)
The Filipina tennis star showed great resilience and recovered from the first set loss and a third set deficit to already match her best finish of the season after also reaching the quarterfinals of the ITF W25 Monastir in Tunisia last week.
Eala actually got off to a good start and grabbed an early 2-1 lead before the rain momentarily halted the contest and took the momentum away from here. Berecoechea made sure to take advantage, breaking Eala four straight times following the resumption to win the opening set.
The 2022 US Open girls’ singles champion displayed grit and heart in the second set as she finally got her bearings going once again, taking an early 5-0 lead. Berecoechea ended her dry spell after earning a game from Eala but the Filipina broke the French to level the contest.
Even with the momentum back on Eala’s side, however, she still found herself trailing in the decider, 1-2, before finally seizing control of the match by taking the last five games.
With the win, Eala sets up a clash against Mexico’s 28-year-old Victoria Rodriguez in the quarterfinals as she hopes to follow up her second pro title she won in the W25 Chang Rai in Thailand last year.
Rodriguez, though, is certainly not a pushover for the second seed Filipina, having won ITF singles title nine times already in the past.
