Eala edges Masarova in rain-delayed match to make Birmingham Open finals

MANILA, Philippines -- It took some time due to rain delays, but Alex Eala is headed to her first final of the season.

The Filipina tennis ace outlasted Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova in three sets, 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, in their semifinal matchup at the Birmingham Open late Saturday evening (Manila time). 

After breezing through the first set, going up 6-2, Eala absorbed her first set loss in the tournament from the World No. 132 tennister, 4-6.

But the World No. 37 pride of the Philippines powered through in the third set, breaking a 2-2 deadlock and winning the next three games to go up 5-2 to move a game from the victory.

However, play was suspended for the second time, as the heavy rain rendered the court unsuitable for action, and a rain cover was rolled out.

The suspension went on for more than two hours, but when play resumed, Masarova kept herself alive after holding her serve.

The Filipina, however, ended the match as she held her own serve, 6-3.

Eala will thus face Czechia’s NIkola Bartunkova in the final.

Bartunkova, ranked 69th in the world, defeated Ashlyn Krueger, 6-4, 7-6(7), in the semifinal.