Alex Eala coped brilliantly to emerge victorious against local bet Katy Dunne and advance to the finals of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) W25 Aldershot GB Pro Series, 1-6, 7 (7)-6 (4), 6-3, on Saturday night, Aug. 19 (Manila time) in Great Britain. 

It will be the Filipina tennis star’s back-to-back finals appearance in a matter of one week after coming back from a set down and trailing for most of the first two sets. 

The 18-year-old Filipina bet took home the W25 Roehampton crown just last week also in Great Britain for her fourth ITF title. 

In the opening set, Eala evidently struggled and couldn’t gather enough steam to break the British veteran a decade her senior’s perfect run, 1-6. 

Eala continued to be left frustrated by Dunne in a 3-5 hole, but the 2022 US Open singles girls champion fought her way back to level the second set at 5-all. 

However, Dunne was quick to rely on her experience and snatched the lead back at 6-5 before Eala brought the set to a tiebreak which ended with her convincingly forcing a decider. 

Early in the third set, though, Dunne remained all over Eala in a 2-all nip-and-tuck affair. 

Eala then had to escape a breakpoint after a 0-40 deficit in game 5 and give herself another taste of lead in the match, 3-2. 

From then on, the Filipina steadily regained control and zoomed to a 5-2 advantage en route to the victory and see herself through the semifinals. 

Eala is poised to take her fifth ITF title after arranging a finals clash with another familiar foe in Australian Destanee Aiava. 

The two faced each other in the Round of 16 of the W25 Roehampton, where Eala also bucked a sluggish first set to come out on top. 

The Filipina then teamed up with Aiava in the doubles event of the same tournament and the duo managed to make it to the quarterfinals before crashing out of contention against Australian pair Petra Hule and Talia Gibson.