IN what is dubbed to be the youngest Eastbourne final since 1981, 20-year-old Alex Eala is set to battle 19-year-old Maya Joint for the WTA 250 title on grass.
Eala, a Filipino qualifier, has strung together six straight wins, including two from the qualifying rounds and four in the main draw. Along the way, she stunned top-tier opponents such as Jelena Ostapenko, Lucia Bronzetti, and Dayana Yastremska.
She booked her spot in the final after outlasting Varvara Gracheva, her first lower-ranked foe in the tourney, in a gritty semifinal, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, on Friday night.
READ: Alex Eala posts gritty win over Gracheva to reach first WTA final
Joint, meanwhile, rallied from a set down to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, 7-5, 6-3, and earlier delivered a statement win over 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the second round.
READ: Alex Eala to face Aussie teen Maya Joint in Eastbourne Open final
This will be the first career meeting between world No. 74 Eala and No. 51 Joint.
Future of tennis on full display
The Australian is chasing her second WTA title after winning in Rabat earlier this year.
Eala, on the other hand, is looking to claim her maiden title and make history as the first Filipino to win a WTA crown.
The final is set for Saturday night at 8:30 PM (Manila time).
The last time Eastbourne featured such a youthful championship match was in 1981, when 18-year-old Tracy Austin defeated 16-year-old Andrea Jaeger.
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