YET to drop a set in the WTA 125 Jingshan Open, Alex Eala braces for her toughest challenge when she battles New Zealand’s Lulu Sun in the semifinal.
The 20-year-old Filipino, world No. 58 and top seed in the tournament, has been in cruise control, racking up straight-set wins over China’s Jia-Jing Lu (6-4, 6-1) in the quarterfinals, as well as Japan’s Mei Yamaguchi (6-0, 6-3) and Belarus’ Aliona Falei (6-3, 7-5) in the opening rounds.
READ: Alex Eala puts away home bet Lu, reaches Jingshan Open semis
She is chasing her second career WTA title after recently clinching her maiden crown at the Guadalajara Open in Mexico two weeks ago.
Standing in her way is Sun, the tournament’s third seed and former world no. 39 now ranked 146th. The Kiwi has likewise made quick work of her opponents, beating Russia’s Elena Pridankina (6-2, 6-4), China’s Ru Xi Wu (6-3, 6-0), and Italy’s Tyra Grant (6-3, 6-2).
Saturday’s clash will also be a chance for Eala to even their head-to-head, after Sun edged her in the third round of the 2024 Wimbledon qualifiers, 7-6, 7-5.
While Sun began the year inside the Top 50 before slipping in the rankings following a string of early exits in WTA 1000 events, Eala cracked the Top 100 last March with a breakout run in Miami.
Their semifinal duel is set at 12:50 p.m. on Saturday, Manila Time.
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