ALEX Eala got her act together just in time to beat Alina Charaeva, 6-2, 7-5, and book a quarterfinal ticket in the WTA 125 Lexus Birmingham Open late Thursday night, Manila time.
The Filipina top seed averted a second-set collapse, coming back from 2-5 down and saving three set points to seal the win against the Russian rising star in one hour and 38 minutes.
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The victory, her second straight against Charaeva since their meeting at the Philippine Women's Open, sends the 21-year old to a Final 8 date against fellow Southeast Asian Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand.
The Birmingham Open marks Eala’s first tournament on grass after wrapping up a spotty clay-court campaign that ended in a first-round exit at the French Open.
Eala looked in complete control early, storming to a commanding 4-0 lead. But Charaeva put the world No. 37 on the back foot after building a 2-5 advantage.
Eala, however, flipped the momentum at the perfect time, winning five straight games to complete the comeback and finish off the straight-set victory.
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