Alex Eala through to Eastbourne quarterfinals after Jelena Ostapenko retired due to injury

Filipino tennis sensation Alex Eala has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Lexus Eastbourne Open after her opponent, third seed Jelena Ostapenko, retired due to injury during their Round of 16 match on Wednesday. The score stood at 0-6, 6-2, 3-2 in Eala’s favor when the Latvian was forced to concede.

The match, played on the grass courts of the Devonshire Park Lawn Tennis Club, was a dramatic affair. Ostapenko, the 2017 French Open champion and former world No. 5, started dominantly, sweeping the first set 6-0. Eala, however, displayed incredible resilience, fighting back to take the second set 6-2 and leveling the match.

The deciding set saw Eala carrying her momentum, breaking Ostapenko’s serve early and taking a 3-2 lead. It was at this point that Ostapenko, who had already received two medical timeouts for a twisted left ankle suffered earlier in the set, decided she could no longer continue.

“It’s never a good feeling to finish a match like that,” Eala said after the match. “I hope everything’s okay with her because it was a really tough battle today, and I think both of us were on the brink. It could have been anyone’s match.” She added, “I wish her a speedy recovery and I’m super happy to be able to play again in this beautiful place.”

JUST IN Tennis | Alex Eala advances to the quarterfinal round after Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia retires due to injury in the 3rd set (Round of 16) at the Eastbourne Open 2025. The match ended, 0-6, 6-2, 3-2!

Congratulations Alex!#TeamPhilippines#SSN #SEASportsNews pic.twitter.com/VKbxRJntUX

— SEA Sports News (@sea_sports_news) June 25, 2025

This marks the second time Eala has defeated Ostapenko this year, having also triumphed over the Latvian in straight sets at the Miami Open in March. That victory was a significant moment in Eala’s career, signaling her growing prowess on the WTA Tour.

Currently ranked World No. 74, Eala’s run in Eastbourne is a crucial part of her preparations for her main draw debut at Wimbledon, which is set to begin next week, June 30th. Her impressive performance in Eastbourne, including a dominant win over Lucia Bronzetti in the opening round, demonstrates her increasing comfort and effectiveness on grass courts.

Eala will now face the winner of the match between Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine and British wildcard Francesca Jones in the quarterfinals. Her journey continues to capture the attention of the tennis world, as the 20-year-old Filipino phenom continues to make strides in her burgeoning career.

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