Alex Eala barges into Berlin semifinals after beating World No. 8 Elina Svitolina

Alexandra "Alex" Eala delivered another phenomenal performance at the Berlin Open 2026 when she defeated Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-4 in the quarterfinals round on Friday (June 19, 2026).

It was the first-ever matchup between Eala, 21, and Svitolina, 31, currently World No. 8 but formerly world No. 3.

With the victory, Eala, officially ranked No. 35 in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA), has secured a place in the semi-finals of the Berlin Open, a WTA 500 event.

On the WTA Live Rankings site, Eala has already moved up five places to rank World No. 30, a point away from her highest  WTA ranking so far — World No. 29, achieved in March this year.

Before her Berlin quarterfinals match wtih Svitolina, Eala beat World No. 2 Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan 7-5 6-4 in the round of 16.

Rybakina, who won the Australian Open this year, had defeated Eala in Rome last May. 

BERLIN OPEN: FOUR WOMEN PLAYERS LEFT

Only four women players are left in the Berlin Open: Eala,  World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, 28 years old, from Czech Republic; World No. 4 Jessica Pegula, 32 years old, from the US, and World No. 13 Linda Noskova, 21, also from Czech Republic.

Sabalenka and Pegula will be the first to face each on the grass courts of the Steffi Graf Stadion on Saturday (June 20, 2026) at 6:00 p.m. Philippine time. 

Eala and Noskova will be the next to battle for a spot in the finals of the Berlin Open. Their game is slated at 8:00 p.m. Philippine time also on Saturday. 

The winners of both matchups will face each other in the Berlin finals on Sunday (June 21, 2026).

-Veronica Pulumbarit/Paraluman News