Eala gets back at Fernandez to advance in Mubadala DC Open
MANILA, Philippines -- By the skin of her teeth.
Alex Eala climbed out of a 1-5 hole in the second set to barge into the next round of the Mubadala DC Open at the expense of Leylah Fernandez, 6-2, 7-6(1) Thursday morning (Manila time).
Eala showcased massive resiliency and dug deep to get her revenge and dethrone the defending champion Fernandez.
“I had definitely some tough moments in that match and credit to Leylah. She put me in some really tough positions, so I think I’m super proud of how I fought and how I stayed there,” Eala said after the match.
“I know that she was playing a little better, and maybe my level dropped a little bit. I think those are very tricky moments when you know your level’s dropped, and you want to do better. But things just, for one reason or another, aren’t coming out,” she added.
“I think patience was key there, and just trying to work it out, and have a strong mentality in terms of trying to find solutions.”
The 21-year-old, World No. 28 player jumped to a massive 3-0 lead in the first set, as she pounced on the defending champion.
Fernandez, though, went down swinging, slicing the deficit 1-3 and 2-4 before the tournament debutant finished off the set with back-to-back games.
Come the second set, Eala drew first blood, 1-0, before Fernandez showcased her mastery of the court.
The Canadian, ranked 34th in the world, won the next five games as she inched closer and closer to a third set.
Eala, however, showed resolve. She climbed out of the hole slowly but surely, eventually taking a slim 6-5 lead.
But Fernandez forced the tiebreak as she held her serve.
Come the tiebreak, though, it was all Eala, going up 3-0 before her opponent saved her campaign, 1-3.
But the pride of the Philippines was too good to handle, finishing off the match with a beautiful winner, 7-1.
The Filipina absorbed a two-set defeat to Fernandez earlier this year in the Stuttgart Open.
She will be taking on either Polina Kudermetova or Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinal round.
- Latest
- Trending
