ALEX Eala survived a three-set thriller against qualifier Ekatrina Yashina, 7-6(1), 6(4)-7, 6-0, to move on to the quarterfinals in women’s singles at the W50 Indore tiff in India on Thursday.
Eala, fresh from a doubles crown in Pune last week, blasted Yashina in the winner-take-all third set to emerge victorious in the 2-hour, 39-minute netfest.
Yashina outlasted Eala in the second set tiebreaker but ran out of gas in the third set.
The 18-year-old set the pace in the third set when she broke the Russian’s serve in the first game. That was the beginning of the end for Yashina as Eala swept to victory.
Eala, seeded third in singles, skipped the doubles competition.
Meanwhile, Eala notched a new career best in the WTA rankings this week, rising to World No. 184, after reaching the quarterfinals in Pune.
She also moved up 63 spots in doubles, standing now at No. 302 after notching her first career doubles title as a professional.
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