Eala tramples Thai foe to reach Birmingham Open semis

Sports

By MyTVCebu Desk

AN IN-FORM Alex Eala plucked an easy win against a familiar foe to book a semifinal ticket in the WTA 125 Birmingham Open in the United Kingdom early Saturday (Philippine time), June 6.

The tournament’s No. 1 seed, Eala disposed of Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-3, 6-2, and arranged a Final 4 duel with Rebeka Masarova of Switzerland.

Ranked No. 132 in the world, Masarova advanced to the semis via 6-4, 3-6, 6-0 win over No. 146 American Mary Stoiana in their quarterfinal duel.

The world No. 37 Eala sealed her second straight win against the No. 173 Sawangkea scoring more sevice points, 44-22, and points won, 71-51.

Eala previously defeated Sawangkaew to win a historic gold medal for Team Philippines in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games last December in Thailand.

In the professional circuit, Eala and Sawangkaew are now 1-1 after the Thailander defeated the Filipina tennis star in the ITF W100 Takasaki International Open two years ago, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Eala will be up against another familiar opponent in the semis. She defeated Masarova when they met in the Round of 32 of last year’s ITF W75 Trnava in Slovakia, 6-4, 6-3.

The two actually partnered in the doubles of last year’s Birmingham Open where they got eliminated in the Round of 16.(CCM)