Alexandra Eala doesn’t have a ton of grass-court experience to her name, but over the last two seasons the Filipina has proven time and time again that the surface suits her.
On Thursday in Berlin came more proof, as she took down World No.2 Elena Rybakina, 7-5, 6-4, to book a quarterfinal spot in the stacked Berlin Tennis Open draw. Eala, 21, has won eight of nine matches on the surface this year across all levels, and 14 of her last 17.
After the win – her fifth in nine career matches against the Top 10 – the World No.35 picked up her phone and called her parents. What did they talk about in the 30 seconds before Eala moseyed over to the microphone to do a post-victory interview with Andrea Petkovic?
“I just said, ‘Oh, my God!’ We were just screaming, and my mom was there too – I’m really happy,” she said.
Eala overcame an early deficit against the 2022 Wimbledon champion thanks to her determination and stellar returning. She was down 4-1 after Rybakina fired six aces in her first three service games and engineered an early break, but Eala started to find her range from that point.
“I think she really started on fire, and she came out hot,” Eala said. “I think I was able to get a couple of free points with my serve, and I think that helped also. I don’t know how many aces she hit in the first couple of games, so I think getting the point in play was a big help for me.”
Eala clawed back the break, then broke for 6-5 before serving out the opening set.
Eala moved ahead by a break at 2-1 in the second set and never looked back. She had three chances to go up a double break in Rybakina’s next service game but couldn’t convert.
Not to worry – the trailblazer dropped just four points in her final three service games to close out the match in 92 minutes.
“I am a little foggy right now,” an elated Eala said.
Eala hit 11 winners and converted three of seven break points. Rybakina hit 28 winners but was undone by 41 unforced errors as she lost for the third time in her last four matches.
“I’m still shaking, and I was shaking on the court, too.
“It could have gone either way. I think there were really tight moments in both sets, and of course, she’s an amazing player and I’m happy to have been able to share the court with her again.”
Eala will next face Elina Svitolina in the quarterfinals.
Keys’ + Grass: Toxic at Times, but All Love
Madison Keys moved past former Serena Williams doubles partner Karolina Muchova to set a quarterfinal clash with Jessica Pegula in Berlin, the 31-year-old American surviving a nervy finish to improve to 3-0 against the talented Czech, 6-4, 7-5.
For Keys it was a 35th career Top 10 win.
“When you play someone as talented as she is, you know that you have to come out and play your best game, and I feel like I was able to do that,” Keys said.
The American served for the match at 5-4 in the second set but was broken.
She never hung her head, and took the final two games to seal her 54th career win on grass.
“I think I served really well and really just kind of made it a little bit competitive on those return games, just to kind of take advantage, because on the grass, it’s so hard to get a big lead and try to run with it.
“Just staying composed and in the match.”
Keys is 54-19 lifetime on grass with three titles, and 27-11 at Wimbledon with two quarterfinals and five total trips to the second week.
Despite all that success, the American says her relationship with the grass is, well, complicated.
“I’ve always loved grass. It doesn’t always love me back,” she said. “But it’s that toxic relationship where you just keep going back and saying, ‘I love you. Please love me back.’ Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t. Today it worked.”