NAGOYA, Japan — Alex Eala stormed into the women’s singles semifinals of the 20th Asian Games after overpowering Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland in their quarterfinal clash on Wednesday.
Eala secured at least a bronze medal for the Philippines with the victory while keeping her bid for the Asian Games gold alive.
The Filipina tennis star had to work for the opening set, holding her nerve in a tight battle to take it, 7-5, before seizing control of the match.
Eala then dominated the second set, breaking down Garland with aggressive shot-making and sustained pressure to complete the straight-sets victory.
The win sent Eala into the final four and guaranteed another medal for Team Philippines in Aichi-Nagoya.
Eala entered the quarterfinals coming off a commanding 6-1, 6-0 victory over Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej in the round of 16.
She will now turn her attention to the semifinals as she seeks to move closer to the women’s singles gold medal.
