Top-seed Alex Eala dispatches Garland to reach Asian Games semis

ALEX Eala is now assured of at least a bronze medal as she made her way to the semifinals of the women’s singles of the 20th Asian Games tennis competition on Wednesday.

On a sunny afternoon, the Filipina world No. 18 finally got to show her guns in front of a crowd of mostly Filipinos at the Centre Court of the Nagoya City Higashiyama Park Tennis Center after playing one singles and one doubles match indoors.

Eala didn't disappoint as she defeated Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland, 7-5, 6-0, in a match that lasted an hour and 46 minutes to keep alive her chase for the Philippines’ first Asian Games women’s tennis gold medal.

The 21-year-old top seed took her time before finding her footing, escaping five ties in the opening set against the world No. 143. She then opened the following set with a commanding 4-0 lead, keeping the momentum on her side with her power game, which Garland found too hot to handle.

Eala will next face fourth seed China’s Xiyu Wang in the semifinals, with a spot in the gold-medal match on the line. She and partner Shaira Rivera are also through to the second round of the women’s doubles.

It was the first outdoor match for Eala who played both her singles and doubles matches indoors with no crowd the past two days.

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