By KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
Alex Eala recovered from a first-set stumble and turned back Kyoka Okamura of Japan, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2, to barge into the semifinals of the W100 Dubai International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournament on Friday, Dec. 6, in the United Arab Emirates.
The fourth-seeded Eala picked up her game early in the second set that enabled her to shatter a 2-all deadlock and never looked back.
The 19-year-old Filipina tennis sensation then took a quick 3-0 lead in the pivotal third frame before surviving the late attempts of her Japanese foe.
With the victory, Eala arranged a semis meeting with the winner between top seed Polina Kudermetova and Japanese qualifier Mei Yamaguchi, who were playing at press time.
Prior to her quarters feat, Eala breezed past qualifier Rada Zolotareva, 6-2, 6-3, and Yuliya Hatouka, 6-3, 7-5, in this $100,000 ITF event.
