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Alex Eala of the Philippines stretched to three sets for the third straight match, but prevailed once again, beating Linda Noskova of the Czech Republic, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, to book a spot in the semi-finals of the women’s division of the French Open in Paris.
Eala got off to a slow start, dropping the first set after Noskova broke her serve twice in the first four games. Trailing 4-5 in the first set and needing to hold serve in the 10th game to stay alive, Eala blew a 40-15 lead as Noskova struggled and forced the deuce. The Czech finally broke Eala’s serve again to clinch the set 6-4.
Eala, a 15-year-old left-hander, broke Noskova twice in the first three games of the second set to move up to a 3-0 lead, but the Czech won the next two games close to 3-2. Eala responded by taking the next two games to move on the cusp of taking the set at 5-2, and after Noskova broke her serve to cut the lead to 5-3, the Filipino teenager finished it off in the ninth game to tie. the match to one set each.
Noskova broke Eala in the first game of the deciding match, but Eala broke and held serve in the next game to lead 2-1, before breaking the Czech again in the fourth game to increase her lead to 3-1. Serving in the fifth game, Eala didn’t concede a single point to advance 4-1, culminating the game with a perfectly executed drop shot that Noskova didn’t even bother to chase. Noskova saved a break point in the sixth game and ultimately cut Eala’s lead to 4-2.
Eala fought off two break points in the seventh game to advance 5-2. She quickly racked up three match points, but Noskova unleashed a pair of forehand winners to avoid elimination. But Eala wouldn’t be denied as she secured the last match point after Noskova’s baseline right was too long and out.
Eala, the no. 2 seeded, faces local bet and third seed Elsa Jacquemot in the semifinals set on Friday night (Manila time). She is two wins away from her second junior Grand Slam title this year after she won the women’s doubles crown at the Australian Open in Melbourne in February.
