Filipino tennis star Alex Eala. –RAFA NADAL TWITTER
MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala overcame a first-set loss before taking down Nahia Berecoechea of France, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, to reach the quarterfinals of the W25 Yecla on Friday (Manila time) in Spain.
The 18-year-old Filipino tennis star squandered a 2-1 lead in the opening set as the rain stopped the play before Berecoechea came out firing in the resumption, winning four straight games and stealing the frame with a 6-3 win.
Eala, the second seed player of the tournament, was quick to get her act together with a blazing 5-0 start in the second set and brought her momentum in the decider to advance to the quarterfinals.
The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar, who is ranked No.266 in the Women’s Tennis Association, battles the 28-year-old Victoria Rodriguez of Mexico on Saturday (Manila time).
Rodriguez, a winner of nine International Tennis Federation titles, swept Andreea Amalia Rosca of Romania, 6-4, 6-0, to set a quarterfinal showdown with Eala.
The first Filipino to win a Grand Slam singles title beat Katy Dunne of Great Britain, 7-5, 2-6, 6-2, to start her $25,000 Yecla campaign.
Eala is eyeing her first semifinals this year as she makes her second quarterfinal appearance, following a 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 loss to qualifier Jiaqi Wang of China in W25 Monastir in Tunisia last week.
She is also raring to win her elusive third ITF title since the 2021 W15 Manacor in Spain and last year’s W25 Chiang Rai in Thailand.