FILE–Alex Eala of Philippines. Megan Briggs/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines – Alex Eala barged into her third International Tennis Federation (ITF) doubles semifinal this year.
Eala and French partner Estelle Cascino took down Emily Appleton of Great Britain and Isabelle Haverlag of the Netherlands, 6-4, 6-0, to reach the semis of the W75 Croissy-Beaubourg on Thursday (Manila time) in France.
The Filipino-French tandem needed just 57 minutes to eliminate the No.2 seed team, blanking them in the second set to advance.
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Eala and Cascino, though, squandered a 4-1 lead in the first set as Appleton and Haverlag, Women’s Tennis Association doubles ranked Nos. 16 and 152, respectively, tied the frame.
The 18-year-old Filipino and the hometown bet got their act together to take the set, building a strong momentum en route to a second-set rout.
Eala and Cascino battle Kira Pavlova of Russia and Marie Weckerle of Luxembourg in the semis on Friday evening (Manila time).
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Eala and Cascino staved off the pair of Prarthana Thombare of India and Celine Naef of Switzerland, 5-7, 6-2, 10-6, in the round of 16.
Eala suffered a round of 16 exit in the singles division after falling to Mona Barthel of Germany, 6-4, 4-6, 1-6.
She opened her $75,000 tournament with a 6-3, 6-4 win over French Emeline Dartron but couldn’t sustain her momentum.