Alex Eala secures Berlin Open final four spot after upset win against Elina Svitolina
Alex Eala, world No. 35, has advanced to the Berlin Open semifinals after gaining an upset win against world No. 8 Elina Svitolina during their quarterfinal match early Saturday morning (Philippine time) at the Steffi Graf Stadion.
Fresh from her victory against world No. 2 Elena Rybakina at the round of 16 the day before, Eala's 6–3, 6–4 triumph over Svitolina marks the Filipina's sixth win against a top-10 opponent.
It also brings to mind her successive wins against top-caliber players Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek at the 2025 Miami Open, per ESPN.
Eala, 21, barged into her opening set by securing a 3–0 lead against Svitolina, 31. The Ukrainian eventually found her break, gaining on Eala with a 4–3 in the seventh game. Eala, though, hit back with equal fervor, sealing her first set with a 6–3 victory.
The momentum stayed with Eala, moving ahead 2-0 early on. Svitolina's experience was evident, however, and the Ukranian found a break in the fourth game to catch up 2–2. By the seventh game, Eala was leading again 5–2, with Svitolina holding on in the eighth with 5–4.
Ultimately, Eala clinched the second set with a hard-fought 6–4 win.
"I can't believe it. I'm in shock right now," Eala said in her post-match interview. "Of course, Elina is a huge fighter. And I've seen it many times. I've been watching her since I was a kid so to be able to compete with her today, it's such an honor.
"I think I'm getting better. I hope I'm getting better. Of course, being exposed to this kind of level more often really pushes you to your limits, and forces you to showcase what you got and some weeks are better than others. And I'm really enjoying this week," Eala added.
The Filipina is set to face Czech world No. 13 Linda Noskova in the semifinals, a first for Eala in the Berlin Open. A win would not only propel her to the finals but also break her so-called Czech curse, which has so far allowed her just one win in 13 matches against opponents from the Czech Republic.
