Alex Eala scored a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback victory over Zheng Qinwen of China to advance to the Round of 16 of the Mubadala DC Open.
Eala, playing in the first tournament of her North American hard-court swing, came alive late in the second set to force a decider before racing to a 4-0 lead in the third to seize control of the match.
Zheng broke serve to get on the board in the deciding set, but Eala answered with a break of her own before serving out the match.
Eala faces Filipino-Canadian Leylah Fernandez, the defending champion of the WTA 500 event and the seventh seed this year, in the second round.
The Filipino world No. 28 powered through after trailing 4-3 in the second set against Zheng. She reeled off three straight games, including two breaks of serve, to take the match into a decider.
‘[My coach] said that I have to keep going because if I’m there every ball, I’ll have my chances. And I did. Like always, he’s right,’ Eala said of her comeback.
FINAL: Alex Eala completes a 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 comeback win against Zheng Qinwen to advance to the second round of the Mubadala DC Open.
Eala is serving for the match.
Alex Eala breaks back for the 5-1 lead.
Zheng Qinwen on the board in the third set after that break. Eala still leads 4-1.
Alex Eala breaks Zheng again for a 4-0 advantage in the third set.
Alex Eala on a roll with a 3-0 lead.
Alex Eala with the break. 2-0 lead for the Filipino star.
Alex Eala holds to start the third set. 1-0.
30-0 lead for Eala to start the third set.
And Alex Eala extends the match to a third set after winning the second, 6-4.
Alex Eala at set point.
Alex Eala with a BIG hold to take the lead, 5-4. She’s looking to force a third set.
Alex Eala quickly breaks back to tie the second set at 4-4.
Zheng with a break to love to take the lead at 4-3. First break of the second set.
A 40-0 lead for Zheng with Eala serving.
Another hold for Zheng Qinwen as the second set tied again at 3-3.
Alex Eala also holds to retake the lead, 3-2.
Second set is tied at 2-2 all after Zheng Qinwen holds.
Alex Eala rallies from 0-40 down to take a 2-1 lead.
Zheng closes it out to tie the second at 1-1.
Tight second game in the second set. Zheng at advantage but Eala hanging on.
Alex Eala bounces back in the second set with the 1-0 lead.
Zheng fires an ace to reach set point.
Zheng serving for the set.
Alex Eala responds with a hold to stay in the set. She’s still trailing, 5-4.
Make that 3 straight games for Zheng for a 5-3 advantage in the first set.
Zheng takes the lead for the first time in the match, 4-3.
Break point for Zheng.
This time, Zheng starts strong for a 30-0 lead in the seventh game.
But Zheng Qinwen holds serve to tie the first set, 3-3.
Zheng reaches advantage but Eala forces a deuce.
Alex Eala holds to love to regain the lead, 3-2.
Zheng ties the first set at 2-2 with back to back games.
Zheng takes the 40-30 lead but Eala forces a deuce.
But Zheng ties at 30-30 with an ace.
Alex Eala up 30-0 again in the fourth game.
Zheng now on the board but Alex Eala still leads, 2-1.
But Zheng rallies to take the advantage and a chance to break back.
Alex Eala on serve, and she’s up 40-0.
Alex Eala with the early break! She’s up 2-0 in the first set.
Eala up 30-0 after a double fault from Zheng.
Alex Eala holds to open the first set with a 1-0 lead.
Alex Eala’s double fault sends the opening game to deuce.
Eala up 40-15, but commits an error.
Zheng gets the first point, but Eala responds with an ace. 15-15 tie in the first game.
Eala wins the toss and elects to serve first.
Alex Eala is currently ranked No. 28 while Zheng, whose career high is No. 4, is at 123.
Upcoming: Alex Eala’s first match at DC Open.
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