Eala stays on track in singles, doubles

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala struck twice yesterday by making it to the semifinals and finals of the W100 Vitoria-Gasteiz women’s singles and doubles tournaments, respectively, in Spain.

The Filipina, seeded fifth, first took care of business in the singles play by claiming the scalp of No. 4 seed Yuliia Starodubtseva from Ukraine, 7-6 (5), 6-4, to barge into the Final Four.

Ranked No. 155 in the WTA, Eala has yet to drop a single set in a stellar singles campaign so far marked by sweeping wins over Lian Tran of the Netherlands, 6-4, 6-2, and home bet Lucia Cortez Llorca, 7-5, 7-5.

Another win against Mexico’s Maria Jose Portillo Ramirez would propel Eala one step closer to her fifth title in a budding professional career.

And the 19-year-old sensation also bolstered her bid for a third title this year in the doubles tournament, with long-time pal Estelle Cascino of France.

The third-seeded Filipina-French tandem made short work of Mexico’s Ramirez and Bolivia’s Noelia Zeballos Melgar, 6-2, 6-3, in the semifinals.