Alex Eala barges into the US Open Singles Finals after defeating Canadian Victoria Mboko, setting up a finals duel against Juniors World No. 3 Lucie Havlickova of Czech Republic.
Alex Eala will make her first US Open finals appearance after beating ninth-seeded Victoria Mboko of Canada, 6-1, 7-6 (5), in their semifinal encounter on Saturday morning (Manila time)at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York, United States.
Eala, the tenth seed in the tournament, needed only one hour and 21 minutes to dismantle her opponent and grab the opportunity to enter her first singles grand slam finals.
“One more [win],” posted Eala in Filipino on her Facebook account.
Eala showed dominance all throughout the competition as she managed to cruise past Annabelle Xu and Nina Vargova in the first and second round before pulling off a victory against Australia's Taylah Preston.
In the following Round of 8, Eala dominated Mirra Andreeva of Russia who suffered an injury during the game and her team was forced to hand over their second round match with the German pair of Carolina Kuhl and Ella Siedel in the doubles.
“Big match today. Thank you to everyone who showed their support. Hope you get well soon (Mirra Andreeva),” Eala posted on Instagram after the match.
The feat was a historic one for the Filipina teen as her previous best was a semifinal appearance in the 2020 French Open and a quarterfinal finish in last year’s US Open.
It will also be the first appearance of a Filipino campaign in any of the four Grand Slam stages.
The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar is looking to add a maiden Grand Slam girls’ singles title after winning a pair of gold in the doubles from the 2020 Australian Open and last year’s French Open.
The Filipina prodigy also played in the professional stage in the past months and won her second championship in W25 Chiang Rai last April.
Eala will then face fellow 17-year-old, the tournament’s second seed and Juniors World No. 3, Lucie Havlickova of Czech Republic, who defeated seventh pick and doubles partner Diana Shnaider, 6-4, 6-4, on Sunday at 12 a.m. (Manila time).
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