Eala edges Dutch foe; marches on to W40 Petange semis

MANILA, Philippines -- Alex Eala is headed to the semifinals of the W40 Petange in Luxembourg after beating the Netherlands' Jasmijn Gimbrere, 6-3, 6-2, Friday night (Manila time).

The two tennisters started the first set at a 2-2 deadlock.

The Filipina tennis ace, however, won three straight games as she took a 5-2 lead.

After dropping the eighth game, Eala found her bearings and took the first set as she overcame a 40-15 deficit.

The momentum was carried by the 18-year-old Filipina to the second set as she took a 5-0 lead.

Gimbrere, however, took the sixth and seventh games to put herself on the board, 5-2.

Gimbrere tried to claw back into the game, but Eala's mastery was too much, and the Filipina seized the second set and the match.

Eala will be facing Germany's Anna-Lena Friedsam in the semifinals.

The 29-year-old is currently ranked 114th in the world in singles' play.

The German just defeated Belgium's Amelie Van Impe, 6-4, 6-2, also on Friday night.