Alex Eala eyes fifth ITF singles title vs French foe in W40 Kyotec Open final

FILE – Alex Eala competes in the W60 Nantes tournament. Photo from Alex Eala’s Facebook

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala eyes her fifth International Tennis Federation (ITF) singles crown, facing Oceane Dodin of France in the W40 Kyotec Open Final on Sunday (Manila time) in Petange, Luxembourg.

The 18-year-old Filipino staved off Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam in three sets, 7-5, 4-6, 6-2, in the semifinal round after a grueling two-hour and 30-minute match.

Eala is gunning for her third title this year after ruling the W25 Yecla in June and W25 Roehampton in August. It will be her fourth final appearance this year including a runner-up finish in the W25 Aldershot four months ago.

The ninth seed Eala is facing Dodin, who has yet to drop a set in the tournament and is currently ranked 101st in the Women’s Tennis Association.

The 27-year-old French took down Hanne Vandewinkel of Belgium, 6-1, 6-3, in the other tennis match to forge a championship duel against the World No. 204 Eala.

The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate has been dominating the tournament after sweeping Jasmijn Gimbrere of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-2, in the quarterfinal. She also took down Angelina Wirges of Germany in the first round, 6-3, 6-2, before ousting qualifier Johanne Christine Svendsen of Denmark, 6-3, 6-1.

She also competed in the doubles but she and  Turkish partner Zeynep Sonmez were eliminated in the semifinal round.

Eala surpassed her semis exit in the W60 Nantes in France two weeks ago with another final game in Petange.