Alex Eala will advance to the Round of 32 of the BNP Paribas Open after a thrilling 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 victory over Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska on Saturday.
Buoyed by another pro-Filipino crowd, Eala started off by taking a 1-0 lead, only for Yastremska to take the next two games to grab a 2-1 advantage. The 20-year-old Quezon native then marched to a 5-3 lead before the Ukrainian tied things up. Eala held firm to win the 11th game before three consecutive unforced errors by Yastremska in the 12th game allowed the Filipina to draw first blood.
Yastremska Takes Fight to Alex Eala
The Ukrainian, who lost her only other matchup with Eala via blowout, made sure she wasn’t getting swept again as she roared to a 4-1 lead in the second frame. But the world No. 32 dug deep and willed her way back, closing to within 3-4 before Yastremska won two of the final three games of the second set.
Yastremska’s gritty stand in the second frame set the stage for a thrilling decider that saw the 52nd-ranked tennis ace from Ukraine reach match point, 5-4, after a dominant ninth game. But the Rafa Nadal Academy alum roared back in true Alex Eala fashion, winning the next three games to clinch the match.
Match point, though, didn’t come easy as Yastremska actually led the final game, 30-15 at one point. Eala tied things up and strung together four match points, only for the Ukrainian to save all four before nearly forcing a tiebreak.
But, again, Alex Eala showed grit and composure, playing well enough to force Yastremska to commit costly mistakes that turned the tide after 2 hours and 43 minutes.
Alex Eala Next Match
Alex Eala | Iva Jovic vs. Jelena Ostapenko | Hailey Baptiste
Tournament: WTA 1000 BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells
Draw: Round 1
Date and Time: Sunday, March 8, 6:30 a.m. Philippine Standard Time (Start time is subject to change.)
