MANILA (UPDATED) — Alex Eala once again displayed the heart of a champion and the power of her all-court game as she stormed into the finals of the Guadalajara 125 with a commanding 6-2, 6-3 victory over American Kyla Day in the semifinals.
Eala fell behind 0-2 early in the opening set but quickly found her rhythm. She reeled off six straight games with aggressive baseline hitting to take the set, 6-2.
In the second set, the 2022 US Open girls’ singles champion surged to a 2-0 lead before Day, the 2016 US Open junior champion, fought back to level at 2-all.
Undeterred, Eala raised her level once more, firing winners from both wings to go up 5-2. Day managed to hold serve, but Eala sealed the match confidently, 6-3.
Eala books Guadalajara 125 semifinal ticket after gritty win over Italy’s Fossa Huergo
With the victory, the 19-year-old Filipina booked her place in the championship match, where she will face Panna Udvardy of Hungary (WTA No. 121).
The two have met once before—at the Oeiras Ladies Open in Portugal last April, where Udvardy prevailed 7-6, 6-4 on clay.
This time, however, the conditions in Guadalajara are expected to play differently. The city’s high altitude makes the ball fly quicker through the air, potentially favoring Eala’s aggressive, attacking style.
The final is scheduled for Saturday evening in Mexico (Sunday morning in Manila), with Eala looking to win her first WTA 125 title and further cement her place among the tour’s rising stars.