Alex repeats over ex-French champ Ostapenko

Sports

SHE did it again.

ALEX Eala overcame a sluggish start and sealed another gigantic win against the highly touted Jelena Ostapenko in the Round of 16 of the WTA 250 Lexus Eastbourne Open in Great Britain on Wednesday night (Philppine time), June 25.

The world No. 74 Eala put in a gutsy performance to take down the world No. 20 Ostapenko of Latvia, 0-6, 6-2, 3-2 (retired), to advance to the quarterfinal round.

It was Eala’s second win over Ostapenko this year as she also defeated the 2017 French Open champion in the second round of the Miami Open last March.

Ostapenko appeared ready to pull off revenge when she blanked Eala in the opening set.

However, the 20-year-old Filipina tennis ace stormed back and came up with a dominant second-set victory. Eala pressed on the attack and surged ahead in the deciding set.

The embattled Ostapenko tried to mount a serious run but eventually retired after suffering an ankle injury.

Ostapenko scored seven aces but committed eight double faults. Eala didn’t score a single ace but only had two double faults.

In the quarters, Eala will take on Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska, who prevailed in her own Roound of 16 match against British Francesca Jones, 6-2, 6-1.

Yastremska is ranked No. 42 in the world.

Eala has now scored four straight wins in the tournamen. She came all the way from the qualifying round to advance to the quarters, putting in a strong performance in the lead-up to her much-awaited appearance in the Wimbledon Open later this month.(CCM)