Alex Eala Is in the Berlin Open Semifinals

The night before, it was World No. 2 Elena Rybakina. On Friday, it was World No. 8 Elina Svitolina. Alex Eala beat them both in under 24 hours. She is 21. She entered Berlin as a wildcard. She is now in her first WTA 500 semifinal.

How it went

Eala went up 3-0 early in the first set. Svitolina clawed back to 4-3, but Eala took the next two games and closed it out. The second set was tight at 2-2 before Eala went on a run to 5-2. Svitolina won two straight to make it 5-4. Eala held and finished it. Final score: 6-3, 6-4. The match lasted one hour and 23 minutes.

Her first serve was the difference. She won 81% of points behind it.

Her words after

“Of course, Elina is a huge fighter and I’ve seen it many times. I’ve been watching her since I was a kid. So to be able to compete with her today is such an honor,” Eala said.

What is next

She faces World No. 13 Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic in the semifinals. The last time they played, Noskova beat Eala 6-2, 6-0 at the Indian Wells Open in March. “My last match with her proved to be very difficult for me, so coming into the semifinals, I hope to prepare and make some improvements and show what I got,” Eala said.

The run so far

Eala won the WTA 125 title in Birmingham earlier this month. She is now 9-1 on grass this season. Her record against top-10 players sits at 6-4. Wimbledon starts June 29.