FILE–Alex Eala in her Asian Games women’s singles semifinals match. –POOL PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Hours after losing in the women’s singles semifinal, Alex Eala assured herself of another bronze medal in the 19th Asian Games.
Eala and Francis Casey Alcantara took down Thailand’s Luksika Kumkhum and Maximus Jones, 6-4, 6-4, to reach the mixed doubles semifinal on Thursday at Hangzhou Olympic Tennis Centre in China.
Fatigue didn’t stop the 18-year-old Eala from conspiring with Alcantara to sweep the Thais in their quarterfinal duel in just 79 minutes.
The Filipino tandem broke a 4-4 tie in the opening set, winning two straight games capped by a flawless 10th game to draw first blood.
Kumkhum and Jones threatened to extend the second game, trimming the Philippines’ lead to just one, 5-4, but Eala and Alcantara took care of business to their ticket to the Final Four.
Eala and Alcantara face Chinese Taipei’s Liang En-shuo and Huang Tsung-hao on Friday.
Earlier, Eala pushed the World No.23 Zheng Qinwen of China to her limits before yielding to a 1-6, 7-6(5), 3-6 loss in their thrilling semifinal duel,
The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate settled for a bronze medal in the singles division after an impressive Asiad debut.
Eala won a mixed doubles bronze with Treat Huey in the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam, where she also placed third in the singles and team events.