Alex Eala Beats Svitolina Again to Reach DC Open Semifinals

Alex Eala has Elina Svitolina’s number, and she proved it twice in six weeks. The Filipina beat the World No. 10 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Mubadala DC Open on Friday, sending her into the semifinals of the WTA 500 event in Washington, D.C.

Same Score, Different Surface

This wasn’t a fluke repeat. Eala beat Svitolina by the identical 6-3, 6-4 scoreline back in June at the Berlin Open, that time on grass. This one came on hard court, and the match followed a similar shape: Eala took the first set in 43 minutes, then had to work for the second, falling behind 1-3 before winning four of the last five games to close it out.

She credited her mental approach after the win. “I think I came in with a great mindset today,” Eala said in her on-court interview. She added that Svitolina played aggressively in the second set, and that she was glad to hold her rhythm through the pressure.

A Season Defined by Beating the Best

The win was Eala’s sixth over a Top 10 opponent this season and her third semifinal appearance of the WTA Tour year.

Up Next: A First Meeting With Osaka

Eala now faces Naomi Osaka, the tournament’s third seed, for the first time in her career. Osaka advanced earlier the same day, coming back from a set down to beat Elisabetta Cocciaretto 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Of her upcoming opponent, Eala said, “She’s such an accomplished player,” and pointed to the impact Osaka has made both on and off the court.