Eala shrugs off poor start vs Todoni

MANILA, Philippines — Alex Eala inched closer to another title in India, making short work of Romania’s Anca Alexia Todoni, 7-5, 6-2, to barge into the semifinals of the W50 Indore yesterday.

The 18-year-old ace netted the last three games in the opening set to erase a 4-5 deficit before banking on a searing 4-1 start in the second to score the straight-sets win for a ticket to the Final Four.

Eala needed only one hour and 38 minutes, an easier task compared to a 7-6(1), 6(4)-7, 6-0 win against Russian Ekaterina Yashina in the quarterfinals that lasted almost three hours.

Seeded No. 3 in the $50,000 tourney, Eala shoots for a ticket in the finale against Russian Polina Kudermetova, who beat Japanese Eri Shimizu, 7-6(2), 5-7, 6-2.