Filipino tennis star Alexandra Eala secures a dominant victory against Dayana Yastremska, advancing to her second WTA semifinal of the year at the Eastbourne International. Eala’s impressive performance sets up a clash with Varvara Gracheva.
Eastbourne, England – Rising tennis star Alexandra Eala continued her impressive 2024 season with a commanding victory over Dayana Yastremska at the Eastbourne International. The 20-year-old Filipino showcased her exceptional talent, securing a decisive 6-1, 6-2 win to reach her second WTA semifinal of the year.
UPDATE: Alexandra Eala Makes History: First Filipina in WTA Final
Eala’s aggressive play and powerful groundstrokes proved too much for Yastremska to handle. She broke Yastremska’s serve seven times, dictating the pace of the match from start to finish. This victory follows Eala’s breakout performance at the Miami Open earlier this year, where she notably defeated world number one Iga Swiatek.
🖥️📱 Stream Eala vs. Gracheva live here on TennisChannel.com (estimated start time 6 a.m. ET, Friday, June 27)
A Semifinal Showdown Looms
Alexandra Eala’s triumph sets up an intriguing semifinal clash against fellow qualifier Varvara Gracheva. Gracheva advanced to the semifinals after defending Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova withdrew due to a right thigh injury. This semifinal rematch comes just weeks after Eala defeated Gracheva in a three-set thriller during the Nottingham qualifying rounds. Their upcoming encounter promises another exciting battle on the grass courts.
Unseeded Players Dominate Eastbourne Draw
Eala is one of four unseeded players to reach the semifinals at Eastbourne, highlighting the tournament’s unpredictable nature and the depth of talent on display. Alongside Eala and Gracheva, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and Maya Joint have also secured their spots in the final four.
Pavlyuchenkova, a seasoned veteran with 12 WTA titles to her name, battled past Kamilla Rakhimova in a hard-fought three-set match. She now faces 19-year-old Joint, who recently claimed her maiden WTA title on clay in Rabat. Joint continued her strong form with a straight-sets victory over Anna Blinkova.
Men’s Draw Heats Up
The men’s draw also saw some exciting quarterfinal action. Defending champion Taylor Fritz survived a tough challenge from compatriot Marcos Giron in a three-set thriller. Fritz will now face sixth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, who upset third-seeded Jakub Mensik.
In the other men’s semifinal, fourth seed Ugo Humbert will take on lucky loser Jenson Brooksby. Both players secured straight-sets victories over British opponents, with Humbert defeating Billy Harris and Brooksby overcoming Daniel Evans.
Eala’s Rise Continues
Eala’s impressive run at Eastbourne solidifies her position as one of the most promising young talents in women’s tennis. Her powerful game and unwavering determination have earned her significant victories against top-ranked players. As she prepares for her semifinal clash against Gracheva, Eala will be aiming to continue her remarkable ascent and secure a spot in her first WTA final.
