FILE–Filipino tennis star Alex Eala. ALEX EALA FACEBOOK
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala barged into the semifinals of the W25 Chiang Rai International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament after beating Japanese Momoko Kobori, 6-3, 6-3, on Friday at Court 3 of the Chiang Rai Sports Center in Thailand.
The Filipino teen, who is World Rank No. 533, beat Kobori, No. 504, in one hour and 17 minutes in their quarterfinal duel.
The 16-year-old Eala will take on YeXin Ma of China in the semifinals on Saturday.
Ma beat Hong Kong’s Ho Ching Wu, who retired after a 6-2, 1-2 result in their quarterfinal clash.
Eala opened her campaign taking down Serbia’s Katarina Kozarov, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1, before defeating Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej, 6-3, 6-4, in the second round.
The Filipino wunderkind, however, lost in the doubles after she and her partner Indy De Vroome fell to Patcharin and Punnin Kovapitukted, 4-6, 7-5, 10-6, in the round of 16.