FILE–The Philippines’ Alexandra Eala returns the ball to Colombia’s Emiliana Arango, during their first round match of the French Tennis Open, at the Roland-Garros stadium, in Paris, Sunday May 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala eked out a strong third set to outlast American Hailey Baptiste, 6(1)-7, 7-6(4), 6-1, and inch a win closer to the Lexus Eastbourne Open main draw on Sunday.
After a gruelling first two sets, Eala pounced on the injured Baptiste, who called for a medical timeout when the former unleashed a 3-0 start in the decider.
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The World No. 56 and top seed of the qualifiers opted to keep playing amid an apparent lower body injury, but the Filipino tennis sensation pulled away with a 5-0 lead before Baptiste won the sixth game.
The 20-year-old Eala erased a 15-40 deficit in the final match to complete the win after two hours and 45 minutes.
The Rafa Nadal Academy product was dominated in the tiebreaker of the opening set. She blew a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak of the second set, as Baptiste cut it down to a one-point lead but Eala scored two consecutive crucial points to force a decider.
READ: Alex Eala bows out of Nottingham Open
Eala battles Russian Kamilla Rakhimova in the final round of the qualifiers on Monday evening.
The World No. 77 netter took down Zeynep Sonmez of Turkey, 6-1, 6-3 in her first qualifier game.
Eala is also participating in the Wimbledon next week, her second Women’s Grand Slam tournament this year.
