By Samantha Yu
MANILA — Young Filipina tennis ace Alexandra Eala delivered a composed performance to defeat Julia Grabher, 6-4, 6-3, in her first appearance at the Upper Austria Ladies Linz.
The contest featured several tense moments, particularly in the opening set where Grabher created multiple break opportunities. Eala, however, remained unfazed, saving each one before striking at a crucial moment to take the lead.
In the second set, Grabher briefly gained momentum with a break, but Eala swiftly neutralized the challenge, breaking back and controlling the closing stages of the match.
Eala’s efficiency proved decisive, converting key opportunities while limiting her opponent’s success rate on break points.
She now prepares for a tougher test against fourth-seeded Jelena Ostapenko. Having beaten the Latvian twice in 2025, Eala aims to continue her dominance and advance deeper into the tournament.
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