FILE–Philippines’ Alex Eala. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala inched closer to her first championship of the year 2025 after reaching the semifinal of the Women’s Tennis Association 125 Canberra International.
A first-set defeat didn’t stop Eala from asserting her mastery of Australia’s Taylah Preston with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 win to barge into the Final Four of the tournament on Thursday at Canberra Tennis Centre.
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The Filipino netter had to overcome a tough first-set loss and buck a 1-2 start in the second set before winning five straight games to force a decider.
The 19-year-old Eala dominated the final set winning six but one game for her first semis appearance this year.
Eala battles China’s Wei Sijia for a ticket to the final on Friday morning.
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The Rafael Nadal Academy graduate, currently the World No. 147, won three consecutive games over the WTA No.170 Preston including a French Open Qualifier game last year.
The Filipino prodigy has been on a tear in Canberra as she swept Arianne Hartono of the Netherlands, 6-3, 6-3, in the quarterfinal less than 24 hours ago.
Eala went through the qualifiers, winning five straight games to move a win away from her first championship game this year before heading to the Australian Open qualifiers next week.