MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala pulled off one of the biggest victories of her career after stunning world No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, 7-5, 6-4, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Berlin Tennis Open in Germany on Thursday.
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| Alex Eala beats world No. 2 Elena Rybakina to advance to Berlin Tennis Open quarterfinals. Photo courtesy: WTA |
The 21-year-old Filipina wildcard defeated the former Wimbledon champion in straight sets, adding another milestone to her growing list of achievements on the WTA Tour.
Eala showed remarkable composure against one of the world's top players, battling back from an early deficit and maintaining her level throughout the match to complete the upset.
The emotional significance of the victory was evident moments after the match as Eala revealed she immediately called her family to share the unforgettable moment.
"I called my dad," Eala said in her post-match interview. "I said, 'Oh my God.' We were just screaming, and my mom was there and all. I'm just really happy."
Despite the historic result, Eala admitted she was still struggling to process what she had accomplished.
"I am a little foggy right now. I'm still shaking — and I was shaking at match point, too," she said. "I'm really happy with the day."
Eala also paid tribute to Rybakina, acknowledging the challenge of facing one of the best players in the world.
"She's an amazing player. She's the one to beat, so I'm happy to have been able to share the court with her again," she said.
For Filipino tennis fans, the victory marked another proud chapter in Eala's inspiring rise and reinforced her ability to compete with the sport's elite.
With the win, Eala advances to the quarterfinals, where she will face world No. 8 Elina Svitolina as she looks to continue her dream run in Berlin.
— The Summit Express
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