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Tennis: Alex Eala into W25 Madrid QF after upset of No. 4 seed

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Rosy Mina

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Alex Eala  Vietnam Tennis Federation/File" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/life/06/09/20220609-alex-eala-vietnam-tennis-federation.jpg"/><figcaption>Alex Eala of the Philippines at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in May. <em>Photo courtesy of the Vietnam Tennis Federation/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA – Alex Eala of the Philippines barged into the quarterfinals of the W25 Madrid tournament in Spain after ousting No. 4 seed Xiaodi You of China in the second round, 6-4, 6-2, on Thursday.</p><p>This is the third quarterfinal of the year for the 17-year-old Filipino since her W25 Chiang Rai title win in April and her quarters finish the week after in the same W25 series in Thailand. </p><p>At Court 15 of Ciudad de la Raqueta, WTA World No. 419 Eala was off to a strong start at 4-1 against WTA World No. 296 You.</p><p>Eala saved a break point to be at 5-2, but You held serve then broke in the ninth game, while Eala was serving for the set, to trail at 4-5.</p><p>The tenth game went to deuce with You on serve, and Eala converted a break opportunity to claim the first set, 6-4, after the Chinese netted a forehand in response to the Filipino’s firing forehand. </p><p>You, 26, kicked off the second set with a break of serve, to which Eala replied with a break.</p><p>Service holds ensued until the sixth game, where Eala broke to clinch a 4-2 edge.</p><p>The following game went to deuce, and Eala made a crucial hold of serve to extend her lead to 5-2.</p><p>With You serving to stay in the match, the eighth game went to deuce and Eala gained an advantage and a match point after her backhand cross-court volley yielded a forehand error from You.</p><p>Eala ended the next rally with a swift forehand cross-court winner to take the match, 6-2, and set up a quarterfinal clash with her doubles partner, No. 8 seed Alice Robbe of France.</p><p>The Filipino-French tandem lost to Zoe Hives of Australia and Katherine Sebov of Canada, 0-6, 4-6, in the W25 Madrid doubles quarterfinals.</p><p>Meanwhile, in singles, Eala posted a 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 comeback win over Arina Gabriela Vasilescu of Romania in the first round.</p><p>Eala, a Rafa Nadal Academy scholar and International Tennis Federation (ITF) Grand Slam Player Development Programme recipient, won her first professional title in 2021 at the W15 Manacor tournament in Spain. </p><p>A former ITF Junior Player Grants Programme recipient, Eala has two junior grand slam titles under her belt: the girls’ doubles championship crowns from the 2020 Australian Open and 2021 Roland Garros.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/09/22/alex-eala-powers-through-to-w25-madrid-2nd-round">Tennis: Alex Eala powers through to W25 Madrid 2nd round</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/06/08/22/tennis-eala-robbe-advance-to-w25-madrid-doubles-qf">Tennis: Alex Eala, French partner leap to W25 Madrid doubles QF</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XHflY20kaO8?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></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>

Alex Eala of the Philippines barged into the quarterfinals of the W25 Madrid tournament in Spain after ousting No. 4 seed Xiaodi You of China in the second round, 6-4, 6-2, on Thursday.