Eala eyes another Svitolina stunner

MANILA, Philippines — Momentum is hers. History, too.

Alex Eala brings both into her quarterfinal showdown with world No. 10 Elina Svitolina at the Mubadala Citi DC Open, looking to turn back-to-back wins over a pair of champions into a ticket to the Final Four.

World No. 29 Eala will ride the momentum of those statement wins over an Olympic gold medalist and the defending Washington titlist, as she aims to slay another giant in Svitolina for the right to face either No. 71 Elisabetta Cocciaretto of Italy or No. 13 Naomi Osaka of Japan in the semifinals.

And for once, Eala will not enter as the heavy underdog.

The 21-year-old is a perfect 2-0 against the 31-year-old Ukrainian – in both singles and doubles – who is seeded No. 2 in the 500-level event.

“I’m ready for anything,” Eala vowed ahead of her quarterfinal clash set at 6:30 a.m. today, Manila time.

Eala, fresh off a breakthrough grasscourt swing highlighted by a Round-of-16 appearance at Wimbledon, has transitioned seamlessly to the North American hardcourt season. She opened her Washington run with a gritty 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback win over Paris Olympic gold medalist Zheng Qinwen of China, followed by a composed 6-2, 7-6 (7-1) victory over Filipina-Canadian and defending champion Leylah Fernandez.

History is on her side.

Just last month, Eala stunned then-world No. 8 Svitolina, 6-3, 6-4, in the Berlin Tennis Open on her way to a semifinal finish.

Before that, Eala and American partner Iva Jovic upended the pair of Svitolina and returning legend Venus Williams, 7-6 (9-7), 6-1, in the ASB Classic in Auckland, where they also reached the last four.

Eala will have the benefit of an extra day of rest. Svitolina only yesterday battled past No. 108 Polina Kudermetova, 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, to book her quarterfinal ticket.

Still, a repeat over Svitolina will be far from easy.