Alex Eala advances to W25 El Espinar/Segovia semifinal

Alex Eala at the W25 El Espinar/Segovia. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala dedicated her quarterfinal win in the W25 El Espinar/Segovia to the Filipinos who were affected by the earthquake last Wednesday.

The 17-year-old tennis star edged out hometown bet Rosa Vicens Mas, 7-6(3), 7-6(4), to reach the semifinals of the $25,000 tournament in Spain on Thursday evening (Manila time).

The WTA No. 282 offered her victory to the victims of the magnitude 7 earthquake that hit the northern part of the Philippines, especially in Abra and Ilocos Norte.

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“I was saddened to hear about the earthquake back home. So, this win goes out to all the affected families. I had a huge battle today winning 7-6 / 7-6,” Eala wrote on Facebook.

Eala will face another Spanish player, Eva Guerrero Alvarez in the semifinals at 7 p.m. (Manila time).

The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar defeated Alvarez, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2, in the opening round of W25 Corroios-Seixal but bowed out in the round of 16 three weeks ago.

Eala is making her second straight semifinals appearance after missing the finals of the W60 Vitoria-Gasteiz with a 6-4, 6-4 loss to Jessika Ponchet of France last week.

The Filipino tennis prodigy is eyeing her third professional title. She won her last championship in the W25 Chiang Rai in Thailand last April and earned her first in W15 Manacor in 2021.