FILE–Alexandra Eala of the Philippines. Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines–Hurdling two matches in one day, Alex Eala barged into the semifinals of the Guadalajara Open on Friday (Manila time).
Eala completed her comeback against Varvara Lepchenko, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (3), 6-3, in their rain-delayed Round-of-16 match.
READ: Alex Eala’s next test after breakthrough US Open run
She had led 3-2 before play was suspended and, picking up where she left off, closed out the win to advance to the quarterfinals later in the day.
The Filipino tennis ace then defeated Italy’s Nicole Fossa Huergo, 7-6 (2), 6-2, to secure her spot in the semifinals.
Ranked No. 75 in the world and seeded second in the tournament, Eala survived another tiebreak in the opening set but wrapped up the match in straight sets.
READ: Alex Eala ‘over the moon’ after historic US Open breakthrough
Eala faces Kayla Day of United States in the semifinals on Saturday, no earlier than 2:10 a.m.
She is eyeing another run to the final and her first WTA championship after finishing runner-up at the Lexus Eastbourne Open last June.
The Guadalajara Open is Eala’s first tournament since her second-round exit at the US Open last week.
She is also set to compete in the Sao Paulo Open from September 8 to 14 in Brazil.
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