Alex Eala is set to reach a new rankings milestone after dismantling Dayana Yastremska to reach the semi-finals of the 2025 Eastbourne Open.
The rising Filipina star scored a dominant 6-1, 6-2 victory over world No 42 Yastremska in just over an hour in the quarter-finals of the grass-court WTA 250 event.
Eala broke in all seven of Yastremska’s service games — three times in the opening set and four times in the second set — as she ran riot on return (winning 68% of return points).
The left-hander has now won five consecutive matches in Eastbourne, including the two she won in qualifying against Zeynep Sonmez and Hailey Baptiste.
Eala destroyed Lucia Bronzetti 6-0, 6-1 in the opening round of the main draw before progressing past Jelena Ostapenko in the second round.
She was up a break in the third set at 0-6, 6-2, 3-2 against Ostapenko when the Latvian was forced to retire through injury.
In the semi-finals, Eala will face world No 111 Varvara Gracheva — a 24-year-old Frenchwoman who received a quarter-final walkover as her scheduled opponent Barbora Krejcikova pulled out.
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With her latest win, Eala has climbed to a projected new career-high ranking of world No 64 in the Live WTA Rankings. Her previous best ranking was 69th.
Having started Eastbourne ranked 74th, Eala has collected 101 points for her run to the semi-finals as a qualifier.
If she were to lift her maiden WTA title on the English South Coast, Eala would be projected to jump to 52nd in the world, while a runner-up finish would see her climb to 56th.
Following her second round win against Ostapenko, Eala spoke about her form on the grass.
“The grass season is not very long, and I haven’t had many [matches] in general, so I’m happy that I’m able to do well.
“I think it’s growing on me, I think it suits my game.”
On the challenge of facing Ostapenko, she added: “I think I was very happy with how I was able to recollect and rebound after that first set. Because she was really dominating me.
“I’m proud of how I was able to find solutions. She retired but I had good chances in the third. I broke her and I was on a roll.
“Although you can never know what could have happened if she continued, but overall I’m happy.”
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