Elina Svitolina embraces new surface, new challenge vs Alex Eala

MANILA, Philippines–Alex Eala will be clashing with Elina Svitolina of Ukraine for a place in the semifinals of the Mubadala DC Open in Washington DC, and this time, it is the Filipina’s higher-ranked foe that’s trying to stay confident on the eve of their clash.

“Tomorrow is a new surface, new country, a new city, so it’s a new challenge,” Svitolina told wtatennis.com after she was asked of her quarterfinal clash with the 21-year-old from Manila, who beat her, 6-4, 6-3 the first time they faced, which was on grass.

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“And hopefully, I’m going to draw some confidence from today’s match and carry it into tomorrow.”

Svitolina advanced to the quarterfinals and set the rematch with Eala after rallying for a 7-6 (4), 6-4 win over Polina Kudermetova on Thursday night, as the second seed now looms as the next big obstacle on the road for the Filipino.

It took Svitolina just one-hour and 27 minutes to dispose of Kudermetova and win for the first time since a victory over Liudmila Samsonova in the Bad Homburg last June 23, making that match critical in her lead up to the clash with Eala.

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“I was trying to be locked in … first match, hard courts, everything is new,” Svitolina said. “I was eager to get back on track. I’m happy that I could handle the first set, get back as quick as I can, and find opportunity to win.

“I was not expecting to play perfectly in the first match,” she went on. “When you have a break, when you have not played competitively for a bit, it’s not easy.”

Eala, meanwhile, will be coming off a day’s break with her quarterfinal clash with Svitolina slated 6:30 am Saturday in Manila. She needs that as she will be coming off a grind out 6-2, 7-6 (1) win that dethroned Leylah Fernandez late Thursday.

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The Filipina wunderkind continues to bring in huge galleries for her matches, and this one coming against Svitolina will definitely not be an exception.

The winner of this match will go on to advance opposite the winner of the Elisabetta Cocciaretto-Naomi Osaka match also scheduled Saturday.

Osaka, the multiple-Slam champ seeded third here, advanced after Ashlyn Krueger retired trailing, 6-3, 3-1, while the 25-year-old Cocciaretto came away a 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 winner over eighth-ranked Emma Navarro in a Thursday night marathon.