Eala fights back from a set down

MANILA, Philippines —  Alex Eala displayed fortitude and resilience in hacking out a 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 comeback win against Talia Gibson of Australia to barge into the WTA500 Toray Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals yesterday at the Ariake Tennis Forest Park in Tokyo.

Eala, seeded No. 8, saved her best for last with a bagel in the deciding set for the win in almost two hours against the world No. 38 Aussie, thus ending a series of early exits in her Asian swing.

The 21-year-old Filipina pride will face a familiar opponent in world No. 13 and Tokyo No. 3 seed Diana Shnaider of Russia in the quarterfinals. Shnaider, who beat Eala in the WTA500 Ningbo Open Round of 16 last week in China, also pulled off a gutsy 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win over No. 112 Aliaksandra Sasnovich of Belarus.

“It’s about staying in the match and never giving up. I knew that if I kept my concentration, I would have more chances,” said Eala on her maiden Last 8 stint in the Asian swing.

“Sobrang saya. Maraming salamat sa mga kababayan natin dito kasi mas marami tayo ngayon. Kita kita po tayo sa quarterfinals,” she said to her supporters.