Filipina tennis player Alexandra Eala continued her impressive performance at the Mubadala Citi DC Open by eliminating defending champion Leylah Fernandez on Thursday WIB to advance to the quarterfinals of the WTA 500 tournament.
Eala defeated the seventh-seeded Canadian 6-2, 7-6(1) in the second round. The victory came after Eala rallied from 1-5 down in the second set before winning in a tiebreak.
"I knew she was playing a little bit better, and maybe my level of play was a little bit lower. It was a really tough moment when you know your game is down and you want to do better, but things don't go your way," Eala said.
The 21-year-old said patience and mental strength were key factors in turning things around under pressure in the second set.
"Patience is key. I'm just trying to find a way out and have the mental fortitude to keep searching for solutions," Eala said.
