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Alex Eala in action during the WTA 125 Birmingham Open. –BIRMINGHAM OPEN/LTA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala advanced to the quarterfinals of the WTA 125 Birmingham Open with a 6-2, 7-5 win over Alina Charaeva of Russia on Thursday.
Eala dug deep in the second set, winning five straight games after trailing 5-2 to continue her campaign in the first grass-court tournament of her season.
“I think I was pleased with my attitude [today], ” Eala said in the on-court interview. ” I was in a tough spot in the second set, and I’m proud I stayed in there, giving myself another chance to do better tomorrow.”
The tournament’s top seed appeared headed for a decider after Charaeva, who eliminated defending champion Greet Minnen, won three straight games—including her first break of the match—to take command of the second set.
But Eala found another gear and slowly worked her way back into the match, which lasted one hour and 40 minutes.
It was Eala’s second straight win over Charaeva after their meeting at the Philippine Women’s Open in January.
The World No. 37 now faces Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Eala, who opened the tournament with a dominant win over Priscilla Hon, came out firing and raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening set before Charaeva mounted a challenge in the second.
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