Alex Eala shrugs off home crowd, ousts Lu to book Jingshan Open semis berth

Alex Eala marches into the semifinals of the Jingshan Tennis Open after dismantling China’s Lu Jia-Jing in straight sets on Friday.

The 20-year-old Filipina ace shook off a slow start before stamping her authority, claiming a 6-4, 6-1 victory to secure her place in the final four of the WTA 125 event in Hubei, China.

Eala, seeded No. 1, initially looked vulnerable against the 35-year-old Lu, dropping serve early and slipping to a 2-4 hole in the opening set. 

But that early stumble lit a fire. Saving a break point in the seventh game, the world No. 58 clawed back into the contest and reeled off three straight games to snatch the set in just over half an hour.

OKBET is Asia’s most trusted and popular online sports gaming platform. Visit us on OKBET to stay up to date with all sports news from around the world.

THE ALEX-CELLENT RUN CONTINUES

Filipina tennis ace Alex Eala ousts Jia-Jing Lu of China to reach the Jingshan Open semifinals, 6-4, 6-1.#JingshanOpen #AlexEala pic.twitter.com/xEl7zZrErV

— One Sports (@OneSportsPHL) September 26, 2025

From there, the match tilted completely in her favor. Eala broke Lu three more times in the second set and won 10 of the last 11 games, leaving the home crowd stunned as the Chinese veteran struggled to keep pace with her power and consistency.

The victory now sets up a semifinal showdown with a familiar rival—third seed Lulu Sun of New Zealand.

 The two last met in the final round of the Wimbledon qualifiers in 2024, where Sun edged Eala in straight sets, 7-6(3), 7-5, to book her maiden Wimbledon main-draw berth.

Sun, who boasts a career-high ranking of No. 39 and reached the Wimbledon quarterfinals last year, enters the match in equally strong form. 

Both she and Eala have marched into the Jingshan semifinals without dropping a set, setting the stage for a high-stakes clash between two rising stars of the tour.

For Eala, Saturday’s semifinal represents both a shot at payback and a chance to move one step closer to what would be her second WTA title.

Don’t miss out on the latest sports news, updates, and fan discussions!

  Follow our Facebook page Sports News PH today and be part of a growing community of passionate basketball fans!