What happens when a rising star finally overcomes a seasoned opponent who’s had her number in the past? For 20-year-old Filipina Alex Eala, it meant a breakthrough straight-sets triumph over Magda Linette, that propelled her into the semi-finals of the ASB Classic in Auckland, continuing her strong start to her 2026 campaign.
The world No. 53 displayed her growing maturity on court by dispatching Poland’s Linette, ranked No. 52, in the quarterfinals with a 6-3, 6-2 victory that lasted 1 hour and 37 minutes. This win avenged previous losses against Linette, with aggressive returning, and the ability to seize opportunities when they arise.
Overcoming Early Resistance in a Tight First Set
The match began competitively, with both players trading holds until 2-2. That’s when Eala shifted gears, reeling off three straight games to surge ahead 5-2. Linette, a 33-year-old veteran, clawed back one hold of serve, but the Filipina stayed composed to seal the opener 6-3.
Eala created 14 break-point chances overall, converting six while saving five of the seven she faced. She dominated stretches, winning eight of nine games at one point across both sets. This pressure on return proved crucial, as Eala only trailed 1-0 after the very first game of the match.
Dominating the Second Set with Aggressive Play
Eala carried her momentum forward, blasting out to a 4-0 lead in the second set. Linette fought back with consecutive games to narrow the gap to 4-2, even surviving a tense fifth game on her serve. But the Rafa Nadal Academy graduate refused to let up, breaking again in the seventh game and closing out the match decisively.
The victory marked sweet redemption: Eala had previously struggled against Linette, getting swept in the Nottingham Open last year and falling in the round of 32 at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Open.
“Obviously Magda, being such an experienced player, I’ve had difficulties playing against her before. So I’m happy that I’m seeing my level increase and improve,”
“It feels so good. Thank you, everybody, for being here,” Eala told the crowd shortly after the win.
She also spoke about her strong mindset on court: “I did my best. I do what I can and if I see an opening, I think it’s important that I go for it. Today was difficult.”
Eala’s path to the semifinals includes a comeback three-set win over Croatia’s Donna Vekic, the Paris 2024 Olympics silver medalist, prevailing 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Then came a rout of fellow Croatian Petra Marcinko, 6-0, 6-2, where Eala dropped just seven games total since that grueling opener.
This semifinal builds on a landmark 2025 for Eala, who broke into the WTA Top 100, captured her first WTA 125 title in Guadalajara, and won her first Southeast Asian Games gold medal.
Next up is China’s Xinyu Wang in the semifinals—a chance for Eala to make more history as the only Filipina currently in the PIF WTA Rankings.
Wang aims to become the first Chinese player since Zheng Jie in 2012 to reach the Auckland final.
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