LIVE: Alex Eala vs Elena Rybakina – Berlin Open – Round of 16
- Alex Eala continues her campaign in the Berlin Open against World No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the Round of 16.
Berlin Open schedule
June 18, Thursday
- 11:30pm (tentative) – Alex Eala vs Elena Rybakina
Alex Eala stuns No. 2 Elena Rybakina, reaches Berlin Open quarterfinals
The Philippines’ Alex Eala in action in the Berlin Open. –BERLIN OPEN PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala took down world No. 2 Elena Rybakina in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Berlin Open early Friday (Manila time).
Eala scored her first victory over the reigning Australian Open champion and added Rybakina to her growing list of wins against top-10 players.
The last time the two met, Rybakina defeated Eala on clay at the Italian Open.
This time, Eala continued her impressive grass-court run, which included capturing the WTA 125 Birmingham Open title last week.
Eala found a way to neutralize the big-hitting Rybakina throughout the match with a strong return game.
“I think for me, returning, and my game in general, a highlight word would be to be brave, and it makes a big difference when I’m able to do that,” Eala said when asked about her performance.
LIVE UPDATES: Alex Eala vs Elena Rybakina – Berlin Open Round of 16
- FINAL: Alex Eala takes down World No 2. Elena Rybakina, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Berlin Open.
- Alex Eala reaches match point again, 40-30.
- Alex Eala will serve for the match again.
- Rybakina stays alive against Eala and pulls within 5-4.
- Rybakina then takes the advantage.
- But Rybakina forces a deuce.
- Alex Eala at match point, 40-30.
- Rybakina back on serve and she leads 30-15 with back to back aces.
- Alex Eala closes in on the victory with a 5-3 lead in the second set.
- 40-0 lead for Alex Eala on serve.
- Rybakina responds with a hold to close the gap vs Eala, 4-3.
- Alex Eala pulls ahead 4-2 vs the World No. 2 Rybakina.
- 40-15 lead for Alex Eala in the sixth game.
- Rybakina rallies from 40-0 down to win the game and pull within 3-2.
- But Rybakina wins four straight points to take advantage.
- Break point for Alex Eala in the fifth game.
- Alex Eala takes the 3-1 lead.
- But another double fault allows Rybakina to force a deuce.
- 40-15 lead for Alex Eala.
- Double fault for Eala. 15-15 in the fourth game.
- Alex Eala gets the break for a 2-1 lead in the second set. Back to back games for Eala.
- Alex Eala at break point.
- Eala also holds for a 1-1 tie in the second set.
- Alex Eala leads 40-15 on serve in the second game.
- Elena Rybakina opens the second set with a 1-0 lead.
- Alex Eala takes the first set vs Rybakina, 7-5.
- Break point for Rybakina.
- Set point for Eala, but her shot lands out, forcing deuce.
- Alex Eala takes a 6-5 lead with a break and now has a chance to serve out the set.
- Alex Eala pulls ahead and earns a break point, 40-30.
- Tight 11th game here. 30-30.
- Alex Eala ties the first set again at 5-5.
- 30-0 lead for Alex Eala in the 10th game.
- Rybakina responds with a hold to take a 5-4 lead.
- Alex Eala has tied the first set at 4-4 with 3 straight games.
- Eala holds a 40-15 lead on serve.
- Back to back aces for Alex Eala.
- Alex Eala with an ace. Eighth game tied at 15-15.
- Alex Eala breaks Rybakina’s serve and is now down just one game, 4-3.
- Eala earns a break point.
- Another double fault by Rybakina sends the game to deuce.
- Rybakina’s double fault gives Eala a 30-15 lead in the seventh game.
- Alex Eala responds with a hold and cuts into Rybakina’s lead, 4-2.
- Eala back on serve and she leads 40-0 in the sixth game.
- Quick service game for Rybakina as she extends her lead to 4-1.
- Rybakina with the first break of the match as she takes a 3-1 lead.
- But Rybakina reaches break point, 40-30.
- Alex Eala on serve. She has a 30-15 lead in the fourth game.
- Elena Rybakina holds to love for a 2-1 lead.
- Alex Eala holds and ties the first set at 1-1.
- Alex Eala pulls ahead 40-30.
- Rybakina up again 30-0 in the second game.
- But Rybakina fires another ace to take the first game for the 1-0 lead.
- Eala rallies 40-30.
- Rybakina up 40-0 in the first game with another ace.
- Rybakina opens the match with an ace.
- Rybakina wins the coin toss and chooses to serve first.
- Rybakina is seeded second in the tournament.
- Players on the court doing their preparations for the match.
- Refresh this page for updates.
Alex Eala faces Elena Rybakina in Berlin Open Round of 16
FILE–Philippines’ Alexandra Eala in action. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala crosses paths with World No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the Round of 16 of the Berlin Open on Thursday.
Match time is set for no earlier than 11:30 p.m. (Manila time).
It will be Eala’s second meeting with Rybakina this year after their clash in the Italian Open last month.
Eala, currently ranked No. 35 in the WTA rankings, lost to Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, 6-4, 6-3, on the clay courts of Rome.
This time, Eala and Rybakina will square off on grass, where the Filipino tennis star has enjoyed a strong run in recent weeks.
Alex Eala beats Donna Vekic in dazzling Berlin Open debut
FILE–The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala hits a volley against China’s Shuai Zhang during their round of 32, singles match at the HSBC WTA tennis Championships at Queen’s Club in west London on June 9, 2026. (Photo by Adrian Dennis / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala cooled off red-hot Donna Vekic, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to the round of 16 of the Berlin Open on Wednesday (Manila time) at Steffi Graf Stadion in Germany.
Eala beat Vekic for the second time in just five months in a high-level match that felt like a continuation of their ASB Classic first-round duel won by the rising Filipino in three sets.
It only took Eala a pair of sets this time, but the victory didn’t come any easier against the confident Croatian, who’s coming off a crowning moment at Queen’s Club in London on Friday.
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