Just In: Alexandra Eala stuns Elina Svitolina to set up Naomi Osaka semi-final at Mubadala DC Open
Alexandra Eala stunned second seed Elina Svitolina to reach her first Mubadala DC Open semi-final – and set up a showdown with Naomi Osaka.
The Filipina tennis star produced a commanding display to triumph 6-3, 6-4 against Ukrainian world No. 10 Svitolina on Friday (31 July), receiving a standing ovation from the Washington, D.C. crowd.
It was Eala’s sixth victory over a top-10 player this season, and her fourth in a row, as she continued her fine recent form which has included a run to the last 16 of Wimbledon.
“I came in with a great mindset today,” said the 21-year-old, who beat Svitolina by the exact same scoreline on the grass in Berlin in June, in her on-court interview. “I think I played very well.”
Eala will now meet third seed Osaka, who came from a set down in her quarter-final against Elisabetta Cocciaretto to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
“I’m super excited,” added Eala about her upcoming Osaka clash. “I hope it lives up to the expectations.
“She’s such an accomplished player. I think she’s made waves on and off the tennis court for so many reasons. There’s so much respect for her for that.”
The other semi-final on Saturday (1 August) will be contested between top-ranked Jessica Pegula and fourth seed Diana Shnaider.
In the men’s draw, second seed Ben Shelton was surprisingly beaten in the quarter-finals by Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, going down 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Tabilo will now meet Rafael Jódar of Spain in the semi-finals, while the other last-four tie will pit two home U.S. favourites against each other, Taylor Fritz and Brandon Nakashima.
