Alex Eala nears doubles crown, makes W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz final

FILE–Filipino tennis player Alex Eala. -VENETO OPEN/RAFA NADAL ACADEMY

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala inched closer to her third International Tennis Federation (ITF) doubles pro crown as she and French partner Estelle Cascino reached the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz final.

Eala and Cascino took down Mexican Maria Portillo Ramirez and Bolivian Noelia Zeballos, 6-2, 6-3, in the semifinal on Friday (Manila time) in Spain.

The Filipino-French duo needed to overcome a 1-2 start before finding their group and dominating their semis opponents for a shot at their second championship together.

READ: Alex Eala off to winning start in W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz singles

Eala and Cascino battle Diāna Marcinkēviča of Latvia and Lia Karatancheva in the championship game late Saturday evening.

The 19-year-old Filipino won her second pro doubles title with the French netter in the W75 Croissy-Beaubourg in France last March.

The finalists ousted the pair of Victoria Bervid of Czechia and Laura Mair of Italy, 6-4, 6-1, in the quarterfinal.

READ: Alex Eala rises to new WTA career-high ranking

Eala, who had a new Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) career-high ranking of No. 155, eyes another final ticket in the singles as she battles doubles rival Ramirez in the quarterfinal round on Saturday.

The young netter overcame Ukraine’s Yulia Starodubtsewa in the quarterfinal with a 7-6(5), 6-4 win on Friday.

In the second round, she eliminated home bet Lucia Cortez Llorca, 7-5, 7-5.

Eala is gunning for her fifth ITF singles crown in Spain and her first $100,000 triumph.