Third time proved to be the charm for Alex Eala as she finally earned her first-ever victory over Poland’s Magda Linette, pulling off a convincing 6-3, 6-2 win on Friday to advance to the semifinals of the WTA ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.
The 20-year-old Eala had previously fallen to the 33-year-old Linette in their first two encounters.
Eala, then just 18, received a wildcard entry in the 2024 WTA 500 Abu Dhabi Open but bowed out in the opening round to the then world No. 55 Linette, 7-6(4), 6-1.
They crossed paths again last June at the WTA 250 Lexus Nottingham Open, where Linette — ranked No. 31 at the time — once more prevailed in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, over the then world No. 77 Eala.
This time, however, Linette quickly realized that the 2026 version of Eala was a vastly improved player from the one she had previously beaten.
The fifth-seeded Linette came out strong, breaking Eala in the opening game of the first set.
But the fourth-seeded Filipina answered immediately with a service break of her own to level the score at 1-1. From a 2-2 deadlock, Eala surged ahead to a 5-2 lead, breaking Linette in the sixth game, sandwiched by two holds of serve.
She sealed the opening set in the ninth game after 45 minutes of play.
The second set turned into a showcase of Eala’s growing dominance, as she thrilled both Linette and the Auckland crowd with a dazzling array of shotmaking.
Linette dropped her serve in the opening game on the third break point, allowing Eala to seize early control. The world No. 53 Filipina struck again in the third game to race to a 4-0 advantage.
Just when the set appeared all but over, Linette mounted a brief comeback, saving five break points in the fifth game to finally get on the board.
The former world No. 19 then narrowed the gap to 4-2 by breaking Eala for the first time in the set.
Eala, however, quickly reasserted herself, securing a third service break before closing out the match in the seventh game to finally exact revenge on Linette.
Eala will now look to reach the second WTA 250 final of her young career when she faces seventh seed Wang Xinyu of China in the semifinals on Saturday at the Manuka Doctor Arena.
