Philippines’ Alexandra Eala returns the ball to Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina in the course of the women’s singles quarter-final match on the WTA500 Berlin Tennis Open tournament in Berlin on June 19, 2026. (Photo by Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP)
Alex Eala advanced to the quarterfinals of the Berlin Open after taking down a reigning Grand Slam champion in Elena Rybakina, and the road to a next WTA title has not gotten any smoother with Elina Svitolina up next for the brave Filipino.
The 21-year-old Eala carved out a courageous 7-5, 6-4 upset of Rybakina, the present Australian Open queen, after rallying from 4-1 down in the primary set because the Filipino sustained her good build-up for the world’s premier major, Wimbledon, later this month.
“I’m really completely happy with today. It could have gone either way,” an ecstatic Eala said within the on-court interview, but not after calling her parents back home to rejoice the moment of bringing down a world No. 2 for the second time in her profession.
“I believe there have been really tight moments in each sets,” added Eala, who also conquered then second-ranked Iga Swiatek of Poland in a magical run in Miami last 12 months. “After all, she’s an incredible player and he or she’s the one to beat, so I’m completely happy to have been capable of share the court along with her again.”
Svitolina, the 31-year-old ranked eighth on this planet, advanced in a much comfortable way via a 6-3, 6-2 win over Eva Lys.
The win was the fifth time that Eala brought down a Top 10 player. Other than that conquer Swiatek, the world No. 35 owns wins over Madison Keys, Jasmine Paolini and the American Coco Gauff.
Eala has beaten a top 10 player three of the five times up to now 52 weeks, in keeping with tennisratio.com. Throughout her profession, Eala has had the possibility to face a top-10 player nine times, winning five of them.
This can be the primary singles match between Eala and Svitolina, who has 20 profession singles titles counting the last Italian Open.
Rybakina, the Kazakhstani who humbled world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in three sets of the Australian Open finals last Feb. 1, got here into the match because the overwhelming favorite against Eala, who earned a wild card slot here.
“You might have to present yourself grace while also being brave,” Eala, one among the largest draws on tour up to now 12 months, said.
Meanwhile, Sabalenka can be colliding with Nikola Bartunova in one among 4 quarterfinals happening Saturday morning (Manila time).
Linda Noskova and Paula Badosa are the protagonists in the opposite quarterfinal pairing.
Rybakina had pulled inside 5-4 within the second set and threatened to level, but Eala served out the match and let loose a roar before making that quick phone call to her parents.
“I called my dad. I just said, ‘Oh my God,’ Eala said after surviving 13 Rybakina aces. “I believe for me, (the important thing was my) returning and my game generally, a highlight word can be brave, and it makes an enormous difference after I’m capable of do this.”
Eala got her revenge against Rybakina after falling 6-4, 6-3 in a gutsy performance on the Italian Open.
“I used to be capable of get a few free points with my serve and [I had] just a few good returns,” Eala went on. “She had I don’t understand how many aces in the primary couple of games, so I believe getting the purpose in play was an enormous help for me.” INQ
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