JUST one win shy of her first-ever crown, Alex Eala finds herself staring down an already-known hurdle in Hungary’s Panna Udvardy at the WTA 125 Guadalajara Open finals in Mexico.
On paper, the Filipino has the edge as the world no. 75 against Udvardy’s no. 134, but history says otherwise. Their only previous clash came last April in Portugal, where Eala, then the top seed on clay, bowed to the Hungarian in the Round of 16.
This time, the rematch shifts to hard court, with Eala seeded second—and the only seed who even survived the quarterfinals.
Udvardy, 26, booked her ticket by stopping Maria Kozyreva, 6-3, 6-4, after ousting fourth seed Francesca Jones earlier.
Eala, meanwhile, breezed past American Kayla Day, 6-2, 6-3, fresh off a Friday double-duty marathon in which she outlasted Varvara Lepchenko in three hours before dispatching Nicole Fossa Huergo in straight sets.
READ: Alex Eala moves on the brink of maiden WTA title in Guadalajara
Guadalajara gives her another swing at that elusive first WTA title, coming on the heels of an Eastbourne finals heartbreak and a Miami semifinal breakthrough against Jessica Pegula, two of her best finishes in the circuit.
Udvardy and Eala's match is scheduled on Sunday with specific time still to be announced.
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