Tennis: Eala subdues qualifier to reach W25 Madrid quarters

Rosy Mina

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Yecla Club de Tenis on Instagram" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/life/06/09/20230609-alex-eala-via-yecla-club-de-tenis-ig.jpg"/><figcaption>Alex Eala of the Philippines at the W25 Yecla tournament. <em>Yecla Club de Tenis on Instagram</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – No. 3 seed Alex Eala of the Philippines made it to her third quarterfinal of the year at the W25 Madrid in Spain with a 6-4, 6-4 win on Friday over qualifier Alana Smith of the United States.</p><p>Eala, 18, won her third ITF women’s singles crown at the W25 Yecla in Spain last week and posted a quarterfinal result at the W25 Monastir in Tunisia last month.</p><p>In her second-round Madrid clash on Ciudad Raqueta’s Court 14, Eala trailed her 23-year-old American opponent, 0-2. </p><p>The WTA World No. 808 hit a backhand down-the-line winner to break in the first game and closed the following game with a forehand winner.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/08/23/tennis-alex-eala-wins-opener-at-w25-madrid">Tennis: Alex Eala wins opener at W25 Madrid</a></li></ul><p>The Filipino World No. 266 saved three break points in the third game to get on the scoreboard, then broke serve after Smith hit a long forehand approach shot.</p><p>The netters exchanged service holds that were both sealed with an ace, and went on to trade service breaks to level at 4-4.</p><p>Eala, the reigning US Open Juniors singles winner, held serve for 5-4 and then gained three set points as Smith was serving to stay in the set.</p><p>The Filipino teen broke serve to love to clinch the first set, 6-4, after the American qualifier netted a forehand.</p><p>The competition remained tight in the second set as the players held serve to be at 2-2.</p><p>Eala upped her service game to hold at 40-0 for a 3-2 edge, and the third seed extended her lead to 4-2 after converting her third break point opportunity.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/04/23/tennis-alex-eala-claims-third-itf-crown-at-w25-yecla">Alex Eala claims third ITF crown at W25 Yecla in Spain</a></li></ul><p>Smith, a two-time ITF women’s doubles titlist, secured the next two games without facing a break point to equalize at 4-4.</p><p>Eala managed to hold for 5-4 on her second game point after overcoming deuce, and this caused Smith to serve to remain in the match.</p><p>At 30-30 in the 10th game, a Smith backhand shot that was called out gave Eala her first match point.</p><p>The Filipino player from the Rafa Nadal Academy concluded the match at 6-4 with a gutsy forehand approach shot winner. </p><p>In the quarterfinals, Eala will go up against another American foe in World No. 383 and fifth seed Makenna Jones.</p><p>The 25-year-old Jones, who has two professional singles championships on the ITF Tour, outlasted countrywoman Dalayna Hewitt in the second round, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5.</p><p>In the opening round of the $25,000 ITF tournament, Eala rallied to a 6-3, 7-6(8) victory over American Jessica Failla while Jones eliminated Spanish wildcard Carolina Gomez, 6-3, 6-2.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2227236" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

MANILA – No. 3 seed Alex Eala of the Philippines made it to her third quarterfinal of the year at the W25 Madrid in Spain with a 6-4, 6-4 win on Friday over qualifier Alana Smith of the United States.

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Tennis: Eala subdues qualifier to reach W25 Madrid quarters

Tennis: Eala subdues qualifier to reach W25 Madrid quarters

Rosy Mina

Published Jun 09, 2023 10:04 PM PHT

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Alex Eala

Tennis

International Tennis Federation

W25 Madrid

Alana Smith

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