Alex Eala reaches W25 Aldershot semis

Filipino tennis player Alex Eala. –ALEX EALA FACEBOOK

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala reached the semifinal round of the W25 Aldershot after dominating Jenna Defalco of the United States, 6-1, 6-2, on Friday evening (Manila time), moving closer to her second championship in a row in Great Britain.

The 18-year-old Filipino unleashed a 3-0 start in the opening set that set the tone of her lopsided quarterfinal win over the American with a 6-1 victory in the opening set.

Defalco won the first game of the second frame but Eala caught fire and scored five straight games for a 5-1 spread before the latter stopped the bleeding to force an eighth game.

Eala prevailed in the extended eighth game to complete a sweep of Defalco after an hour and 28 minutes to advance to her fourth semifinal appearance this season.

The third seed Filipino battles Katy Dunne of Great Britain on Saturday in the semifinals as she shoots for her second consecutive final ticket in the country.

Eala is seeking her second straight International Tennis Federation (ITF) crown in a row after ruling the W25 Roehampton last week.

She already won four pro crowns including her first title this year in the W25 Yecla in Spain last June