Alex Eala Battles Past Greet Minnen to Enter Suzhou Open 125 Quarterfinals

Filipino tennis star Alex Eala showcased her resilience once again as she fought through a grueling three-set match to defeat Belgium’s Greet Minnen, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 7-5, on Wednesday at the Suzhou Open WTA 125. The victory earned her a spot in the tournament’s quarterfinals and highlighted her growing consistency on the professional circuit.

A Grueling Three-Set Match

Seeded fourth in the draw, Eala needed three hours and 18 minutes to complete the win, with the contest marked by long rallies, shifts in momentum, and narrow escapes. After splitting the first two sets in tiebreaks, the 20-year-old finally broke Minnen’s serve late in the deciding set—her only break of the match—to clinch victory.

The deciding set was a test of nerves, with Minnen leveling the score five separate times. Eala, however, held firm under pressure and managed to string together consecutive games at the finish, sealing her spot in the quarterfinal round.

Tiebreak Drama in Opening Sets

The opening set saw Eala jump out to a 3-0 lead, but Minnen quickly steadied to keep the match close. Neither player could build significant separation, sending the set into a tiebreak. There, Eala rallied from a 4-2 deficit, evened the score at 5-all, and captured the next two points to secure the set.

Minnen responded strongly in the second set. After another tight battle, the Belgian outlasted Eala in the tiebreak, forcing a deciding third set that tested both athletes’ stamina.

Back-to-Back Marathon Matches

The win over Minnen marked Eala’s second consecutive three-setter in Suzhou. In her opening-round match on Tuesday, she also went the distance before defeating Poland’s Katarzyna Kawa. These extended matches underline her ability to endure physically demanding contests, though they also highlight the tough road she faces against seasoned opponents.

Building Momentum After Jingshan

Eala is aiming to surpass her performance from the previous week, when she reached the semifinals of the Jingshan Tennis Open before falling to eventual champion Lulu Sun. That deep run boosted her confidence, but the Suzhou Open provides another opportunity to add to her growing resume.

Currently ranked World No. 58, Eala has been steadily climbing the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings. Her recent success is part of a string of promising performances that began with her title run at the Guadalajara Open 125 last month—her second WTA crown.

Next Challenge in Quarterfinals

With her win over Minnen, Eala now advances to face Switzerland’s Viktorija Golubic in the quarterfinals on Friday. Golubic, a seasoned competitor with experience on the biggest stages of the sport, presents another difficult challenge for the young Filipina.

Eala will be aiming not only to advance to the semifinals but also to build momentum heading into the upcoming Wuhan Open, a WTA 1000 event starting in early October. Unlike in her previous WTA 1000 appearances, Eala will need to navigate the qualifying rounds in Wuhan, as only the Top 56 players receive direct entry into the main draw.

Eyes on Another WTA Title

As Eala continues her campaign in Suzhou, she remains in the hunt for her second WTA 125 title of the year. A deep run in this tournament could further solidify her standing as one of the rising stars in women’s tennis and reinforce her reputation for grit and perseverance on court.