MANILA – Alexandra Eala continued to make history by becoming the first Filipino to reach a World Tennis Association final after overcoming France’s Varvara Gracheva, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, at the Lexus Eastbourne Open semifinals in England on Friday.
A sobbing Eala then went to her parents, Mike and Rizza, and coach Joan Bosch at the stands, incredulous that she made Saturday’s final where she will take on 19-year-old Australian Maya Joint.
"There were tough moments where she was playing well, and I didn't know how to get out of it," the world No. 74 Eala said during the court interview.
"It was a challenge for both of us, physically and mentally. We both came from qualies and she's a really solid player, had some moments where she was really dominating. So the fact that I was able to stay there and wait for my opportunities was a big achievement for me."
The world No. 51 Joint beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 7-5, 6-3, and will try for a second career title following her Morocco Open clay court win in Rabat in May.
“I’m super excited to play Alex. I think we’re going to have a great match,” she said.
Prior to Eastbourne, Eala’s best showing was a semifinal appearance at the Miami Open in March, counting among her victims five-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 2 then (now No. 8) Iga Swiatek of Poland, 2017 French Open winner Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia and reigning Australian Open champion Madison Keys of the United States.
Eala repeated against Ostapenko, 0-6, 6-3, 3-2, in the round of 16 when the latter didn’t finish due to a hurting left ankle.
Whatever happens in Saturday’s clash (starts 8:30 p.m., PH time), work never stops for Eala as she debuts at the Wimbledon main draw on Monday against no less than defending champion Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic. (PNA)