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Alex Eala hurdles Lizette Cabrera in Ilkley Open first round

  • Writer: Balitang Marino
    Balitang Marino
  • 6 days ago
  • 1 min read

TOURNAMENT top seed Alex Eala moved to the second round of the WTA 125 Lexus Ilkley Open in Great Britain after a come-from-behind win over Australia’s Lizette Cabrera, 7(7)-6(4), 6-3, early Wednesday morning, Manila time. The victory also marked her first win on grass, achieved in just her second career tournament on the surface.


Despite trailing for most of the opening set in the match that lasted an hour and 40 minutes, Eala, ranked world no. 77, rallied to win the tiebreak and took full control from there. The first set saw Cabrera take the early lead, 0-1. Eala tied it at 1-1, but the Aussie struck another ace to pull ahead 1-2, and then 1-3. Eala responded to level at 3-3.


Games went back and forth to 5-5, with Cabrera tallying five aces to Eala’s one. After a three-deuce battle, Cabrera edged 5-6, but Eala forced a tiebreak at 6-6. She jumped to a 3-0 lead, Cabrera came back 3-3, but Eala finished strong to take the set, 7(7)-6(4). Riding her momentum, Eala opened the second set with a 1-0 lead, maintained her edge to 5-3, and closed out the match at 6-3.


Eala will next face unseeded Valentina Ryser of Switzerland, world no. 230, in the round of 16.


Source: spin.ph

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