TENNIS: Alex Eala books slot in Hong Kong Open semifinals

Second seed Alexandra Eala survived a tough challenge from Croatia's Antonia Ružić, securing a 7-6 (7), 7-5 victory on Friday night to advance to the semifinals of the WTA 250 Prudential Hong Kong Open at the Victoria Park Tennis Stadium outdoor hardcourt.

The Filipino tennis star held a 4-3 edge in the second set before play was interrupted by rain. Upon resumption, Ružić mounted a quick comeback to take a 5-4 lead. However, Eala demonstrated great composure, sweeping the next three games to seal the hard-fought quarterfinal triumph in two hours and 30 minutes.

With the win, the World No. 17 Eala moves on to a marquee Saturday semifinal clash against fourth seed Maria Sakkari of Greece, who convincingly dispatched Belarus' Aliaksandra Sasnovich, 6-2, 6-3.

Eala’s path to the final four included straight-set victories over Australian lucky loser Emerson Jones (6-4, 6-3) in the opening round and Czech Republic's Tereza Valentova (6-4, 7-6 [7]) in the Round of 16.

In the other half of the draw, unseeded Alexandra Shubladze pulled off a major upset by sweeping top seed Sorana Cîrstea of Romania, 6-2, 6-3. Shubladze will battle American Claire Liu in the semifinals after Liu eliminated Turkey's Zeynep Sönmez, 6-1, 6-4.

The Hong Kong Open is running concurrently with the Chennai Open in India. Both events represent the final warm-up tournaments on the WTA calendar ahead of the season-ending WTA Finals, scheduled to begin November 8 in Indian Wells, California.

-Paraluman News from a report of the Philippine News Agency