ALEX Eala is off to her first title match of the season in the WTA 125 Birmingham Classic in Great Britain.
Showing a strong start to her transition to the grass surface, the world No. 37 and tournament top seed powered through a late comeback from Switzerland’s Rebeka Masarova, ranked No. 132, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, to secure her ticket to the final round on Saturday night, Manila time.
The last time Eala graced the final round of a WTA 125 event, she went on to capture her maiden title in Guadalajara in September last year.
Eala came out firing early, dominating the opening set with aggressive returns and steady service games to seize control.
Masarova answered in the second set, capitalizing on crucial errors from the Filipina to force a decider.
Eala, though, quickly regained momentum in the third, breaking early before pulling away with composed baseline play to book her place in the championship match.
Birmingham Classic is Eala first tournament on the green surface after a 4-6 win-loss run in clay.
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